Summary of the Evaluation of the Expansion of the National Strategy for the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation on the Internet

About the Program

Online Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) is one of the most serious public safety issues facing society. The Government of Canada launched the National Strategy for the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation on the Internet in 2004. The Strategy was subsequently renewed in 2009. Led by Public Safety Canada (PS), the Strategy provides a comprehensive, coordinated approach to enhancing the protection of children on the Internet and pursuing those who use technology to prey on them.

Investments from Budget 2019 have enabled the Expansion of the National Strategy to better protect children online. This funding is supporting PS efforts to raise awareness of this serious crime, reduce the stigma associated with reporting it, increase Canada’s ability to pursue and prosecute offenders, and work with digital industry to find new ways to combat the sexual exploitation of children online.

What We Examined

The purpose of the evaluation was to assess the extent to which the Expansion of the National Strategy for the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation on the Internet has achieved its expected outcomes and operated in an efficient manner. The scope included the 10 projects funded by the Expansion including four led by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and six that focused on building local Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) unit capacity in police forces across Canada.

Evaluation Findings

Recommendations

The Assistant Deputy Minister, Crime Prevention Branch, should:

  1. Increase the priority placed on GBA Plus research to inform the Strategy.
  2. Refine the Performance Measurement Framework to ensure that the data can be collected and accurately reflects the impacts of the Strategy.
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