Strengthening system responses to harmful sexual behaviours across ASEAN member states - co-creating guidance to address harmful sexual behaviours in a digital age

Presented By:

UNICEF Child Protection Centre of Excellence

Harmful sexual behaviours among children and young people are an emerging and complex challenge across Southeast Asia, particularly within rapidly evolving digital environments. Despite increasing concern, responses remain inconsistent and are often shaped by moral or criminal interpretations rather than developmentally informed, preventative approaches.

This Mastermind session presents new UNICEF-supported regional evidence and the development of ASEAN Guidelines to strengthen prevention and response. Drawing on a systems-based framework, the session reframes harmful sexual behaviours as shaped by the interaction of developmental vulnerability, social context, and the normalisation of sexual violence within children’s everyday environments.

Participants will engage in facilitated discussion to explore how guidance can be translated into action across diverse legal, cultural, and service contexts. Through cross-sector dialogue and shared learning, the session will generate practical insights to inform the implementation of coordinated, evidence-based system responses across ASEAN Member States.

Rise Up Session Date and Time:

August 27, 2026 2:45 pm

Country or Region Focus:

Asia

Type of Session:

Rise Up Session

Public Health Pillar Focus:

Policy and Legislation

Speakers

Amanda Paton and Kirsten Di Martino

Senior Adviser Child Protection and Migration | Asia and Pacific Global Practice Child Protection and Migration | Centre of Excellence-Bangkok | UNICEF

Session Aims

• Translate regional evidence into practical system and policy responses

• Engage international delegates to share insights and experiences from their context to help inform the ASEAN guidelines

• Strengthen integration between research, policy and practice

Session Format

This Mastermind session combines a focused framing presentation with structured, facilitated dialogue. The session will open with a concise presentation of:

UNICEF commissioned background paper on:

The regional evidence base (from the literature and key informants in the region) Introduction a framework for understanding how the normalisation of sexual violence particularly online, is influencing the development of harmful sexual behaviours
The context of harmful sexual behaviours in ASEAN and current approaches
Current evidence on what works to prevent and respond to harmful sexual behaviours
Description and intent of the ASEAN Guidelines for preventing and responding to harmful sexual behaviours of children online (and offline)
Preliminary discussions and progress towards development of the ASEAN Guidelines

This will then be followed by facilitated audience engagement using live polling and guided discussion, where participants will explore responses in their own context and implementation challenges, they have experienced when developing or implementing system change.

The session will conclude with a plenary synthesis, drawing together cross-sector and cross-country perspectives to identify shared experiences and concepts that will help inform the ASEAN Guidelines. Audience participation will form a key component of the session, supporting active exchange, peer learning, and co-creation.