Into the Light – Global Index of Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse 2026: Development of System Strengthening Indicators

Countries vary widely in their capacity to report, investigate and combat child sexual exploitation and abuse (CSEA). Differences in technology, data access, workforce training, and international cooperation contribute to this verification. While the Into the Light Index focuses on producing the annual global estimates of prevalence of CSEA, the ability to act effectively on data requires systems capabilities for both response and prevention. To strengthen the Index and support country-level improvements, the 2026 iteration introduces a new System Strengthening Indicator Area. The initial focus will be on law enforcement capacity and capability for responding to CSEA. This area has been prioritised due to its foundational role in national response systems and the strength of Childlight’s stakeholder relationships in this area. In subsequent years, indicators will expand to cover interagency working models and system capabilities across child protection, health, social welfare, justice, education, helpline services, tech companies, civil societies, academia and etc. This protocol sets out the research objectives and the multi-methods approach. The primary data collection on system capabilities will complement secondary sources and inform grading across three key domains: CSEA data sources, specialist resources, and legislation and policy. The protocol also outlines procedures for data management, ethical considerations, limitations, welfare and wellbeing, dissemination pathways, and conclusion. This work will underpin the Into the Light Index with system-level evidence to contextualise prevalence data and identify investment and action priorities.