Key child protection guidelines set to be translated into Arabic

The Khalid Bin Sultan Al Qasimi Humanitarian Foundation (KSQF) and ECPAT International have announced a landmark initiative to translate and culturally localise the second edition of the globally recognised Terminology Guidelines for the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse into Arabic for the first time.

The initiative addresses a crucial need for a harmonised professional terminology across Arabic-speaking communities in Southwest Asia and North Africa (SWANA), supporting stronger legal frameworks, more effective policy development, and more coordinated responses to child sexual exploitation and abuse (CSEA).

By establishing a unified professional reference, the initiative is designed to inform national legislation, judicial interpretation, media reporting, and institutional protocols, helping reduce ambiguity in legal definitions and strengthening coordination across legal, medical, psychosocial, and policy sectors.

These measures will be undertaken while fully maintaining the dignity of children.

The announcement was made during a convening hosted by KSQF at the House of Wisdom in Sharjah, bringing together regional stakeholders, international experts, and representatives from the child protection, legal, and development sectors.

Across many Arabic-speaking contexts, inconsistent or fragmented terminology has historically limited the development of a unified professional language for addressing survivors, managing cases, drafting policies, and communicating with the public on issues related to child protection.

Establishing harmonised and culturally validated terminology is therefore an essential step in strengthening prevention, reporting, and accountability mechanisms.

Originally published in 2016, the first edition of the Terminology Guidelines was translated into nine languages, but Arabic was not included. In March 2025, ECPAT International released the second edition, which is now being translated into Arabic under this Sharjah-led initiative.

The need for clear and responsible terminology is underscored by the scale and evolving nature of the issue. UNICEF reported in 2025 that approximately 650 million girls and women worldwide, or one in five, experienced sexual violence during childhood. Meanwhile, between 410 and 530 million boys and men, or around one in seven, were also subjected to sexual violence as children. The WeProtect Global Threat Assessment further reported a 1,325% increase in AI-generated child sexual abuse material in 2025, reflecting a thirteenfold rise in reports within a single year.

The Terminology Guidelines promote precise, non-stigmatising, and survivor-informed language designed to replace outdated or harmful terms. An Interagency Working Group comprising more than 40 agencies contributed to the most recent English revisions, reflecting broad international consensus across the child protection sector.

The Arabic edition will be developed through a similarly collaborative process, engaging regional experts, practitioners, and survivor-led organisations to ensure linguistic accuracy, cultural relevance, and shared ownership.

The work goes beyond literal translation to the careful adaptation of terminology that reflects legal nuance, cultural context, and responsible professional practice, ensuring the Arabic edition aligns with global standards while remaining meaningful and practical in regional settings.

Fully funded by KSQF and implemented in partnership with ECPAT International, the project will include translation, technical review, and a participatory validation process. The Arabic edition is scheduled for official launch in the fourth quarter of 2026. To ensure accessibility, a digital version of the Guidelines will be made available free of charge through KSQF, ECPAT, and regional partner platforms, supported by targeted dissemination and advocacy efforts to encourage adoption across professional sectors.

During the event, Lujan Mourad, Director of the Khalid Bin Sultan Al Qasimi Humanitarian Foundation, addressed participants, emphasising the central role of language in shaping protection systems.