Navigating online risks for disabled young peopleÂ
Thursday 8 May 2025
Online exploitation and abuse of children is a global crisis impacting children and young people from all backgrounds. However, marginalised groups—including children and young people who are disabled—often face higher risks, with exploitation exacerbated by unique barriers in access to protection, support, and resources.
During this webinar, members will learn more about emerging research and approaches that can help professionals working in policy, law enforcement, education, health, and the tech industry address these complex issues in more nuanced and effective ways.
The webinar will include time for breakout discussions as well as questions and answers.
Please note this webinar is open exclusively to WeProtect Global Alliance member organisations.
When: 12:00 CET (11:00 BST), Thursday 8 May 2025
Where: Online (via Zoom)
Speakers
Debra Clelland, CEO of DeafKidz International is based in Durban, South Africa. Passionate about building meaningful connections and empowering deaf children to live wholeheartedly, her wish is for DeafKidz to remain fully authentic as they scale their work in depth and breadth.
Robyn Swannack, PhD student at the Centre for Deaf Studies, University of the Witwatersrand, a research assistant in the Social Research with Deaf People (SORD) research group at the University of Manchester, and a heritage project officer at Zebra Access. Robyn is a second-generation Deaf woman with a strong background in community-led initiatives. She has worked on a range of projects focused on deaf children, young people, and adults who are sign language users.
Terre des Hommes Netherlands mission is to protect children by preventing and stopping child exploitation, by empowering children to make their voices count. Their vision is that children can flourish in a world free of all forms of exploitation.
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About this webinar series
The online exploitation and abuse of children is a global crisis affecting children and young people from all backgrounds. However, marginalised groups—including children and young people who are LGBTQ+, disabled, displaced or refugees or other vulnerable populations—often face higher risks, with exploitation exacerbated by unique barriers in access to protection, support, and resources. These children and young people may be more isolated, less visible to services, and more susceptible to threats of abuse and exploitation due to these vulnerabilities.
In 2025, we will be hosting a new webinar series to build an inclusive platform to address the specific vulnerabilities of marginalised young people to child sexual exploitation and abuse online. The series will foster global dialogue, share emerging research, and highlight approaches that can help professionals working in policy, law enforcement, education, health, and the tech industry address these complex issues in more nuanced and effective ways.
This webinar series offers a unique and critical opportunity to tackle online child sexual exploitation with an inclusive, intersectional approach. By focusing on marginalised groups, the series will help professionals better understand the multifaceted needs of vulnerable children and young people in the digital space, while building a foundation for stronger, more inclusive protective strategies.
If you would like to present work you are doing in this area as part of the webinar series, please contact us here.
Page last updated on 25th April 2025