At S.H.E. UK, we support adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse every day. We know that abuse can have lifelong consequences, affecting mental health, relationships, self-esteem and a person’s sense of safety long into adulthood.
That is why we are proud to support The Survivors Trust’s Close to Home campaign.
The campaign shines a light on a growing and deeply concerning form of abuse: AI-generated child sexual abuse images. While the technology may be new, the harm is not.
The campaign film follows Maisy, a 13-year-old girl whose life changes when sexually explicit AI-generated images of her are created and shared online. It is a powerful reminder that child sexual abuse is not something that only happens to other people or in other communities. It can happen anywhere. It can happen to any child.
As technology evolves, so do the ways in which children can be exploited. AI has introduced new opportunities for perpetrators to create sexually explicit images without consent, causing significant emotional and psychological harm. For a child, knowing that intimate images of them exist – even if they have been artificially created – can be devastating.
For many adult survivors, campaigns like this may also bring difficult memories or emotions to the surface. We recognise that abuse takes many forms and that every survivor’s experience is unique. Whether abuse happened in person, online or through emerging technologies, the impact is real, and survivors deserve to be heard, believed and supported.
The message behind Close to Home is one we wholeheartedly support: child sexual abuse thrives in silence.
Talking about abuse can feel uncomfortable, but silence protects perpetrators—not children. Open conversations help parents, carers, professionals and communities recognise risks, challenge harmful behaviours and create safer environments where children feel able to speak up.
At S.H.E. UK, we also know that prevention and early intervention matter. Every conversation that raises awareness has the potential to protect a child and encourage someone to seek help.
We encourage our supporters to take three simple actions:
- Watch the Close to Home campaign film.
- Start a conversation with someone you trust about the realities of child sexual abuse, including the risks posed by AI-generated abuse.
- Share the campaign to help raise awareness and break the silence.
If you are an adult survivor of childhood sexual abuse and this campaign has brought up difficult feelings, please remember that you are not alone. Support is available, and healing is possible.
Together, we can help ensure that child sexual abuse is recognised, challenged and prevented, because it doesn’t happen “somewhere else”. It can happen close to home, and every child deserves to grow up safe.
Support Us
đź’™ To support our work and help us provide life-changing support to survivors, consider donating today: https://localgiving.org/charity/she-uk
