Survivors’ Survey

Identifying and Responding to the Unique Needs of Victims of Child Sexual Abuse Imagery

Introduction

Thank you for taking the time to consider completing this survey.

This survey is being carried out by the Canadian Centre for Child Protection, which is a registered Canadian charity dedicated to the protection of all children. We are committed to understanding the experiences of those affected by child sexual abuse imagery offences, sharing what we learn and using what we learn to advocate for meaningful change. By better understanding your experience, we will be in a position to support the countless individuals who have been affected by this crime, including those who have not yet been identified.

As of March 2024, this survey has been answered by almost 300 survivors – we have published one report in 2017 and are in the process of producing a second report to be released in 2024. In the future, additional reports may be produced using responses from survivors responding to the survey after March 2024.

The survey questions are designed to gather information about your experience and are not intended to identify you directly. You will not be asked to provide your name or the name of anyone else. We appreciate the sensitivity of the information we are asking for and assure you that we are committed to protecting the privacy of all participants at all times. More information about our privacy commitment to you is included in the Informed Consent section below.

IMPORTANT: If you completed the longer version of the Survivors’ Survey prior to May 1, 2021, please do not complete this survey as the questions are the same, except that this version of the survey is shorter.

Your input is critically important to drive change on this issue. Having been affected by the creation and/or distribution of child sexual abuse imagery, you are uniquely able to provide valuable insight that no one else can provide and that we strongly believe is essential to increasing society's collective understanding of this issue. We strongly believe that the results from this groundbreaking survey will help ensure greater and more meaningful support is provided to victims worldwide.

We recognize that the nature of the questions may be difficult and could result in a range of emotions for you. We strongly encourage you to engage your support person(s) before you begin the survey and ensure that they will continue to be accessible to you for support.

Completing the Survey

The survey is designed to allow you to provide as much or as little detail about your experience as you wish. As such, the amount of time it takes to complete the survey will be dependent upon how much you wish to share. Briefly:

  • The survey is separated into sections. At the start of each section, we have explained the nature of the questions and why we are seeking this specific information.
  • You can skip any questions you do not wish to answer. You will also have the ability to skip individual sections if you do not feel comfortable responding.
  • You can take a break anytime during the survey. Your responses are saved automatically as you respond and when you wish to take a break you will be issued a unique key that you can use to log back in later to finish the survey.
  • You are welcome and encouraged to have a support person with you while you fill out the survey.

For each question, please respond with as much detail as you are comfortable with – taking care not to include identifying details such as names.

If you wish to speak to a representative from the Canadian Centre for Child Protection, please email us at survivors@protectchildren.ca.

NOTE: Throughout the survey, we have primarily used the term “child sexual abuse imagery.” For clarity, when using this term, we are referencing what is often referred to legally as “child pornography.” Recognizing that the term “child pornography” may minimize the abuse, we believe the term “child sexual abuse imagery” more appropriately describes the abuse. Within child sexual abuse imagery, we are including still images/photographs, videos, live-streamed content, audio and written stories/content.