Interpol warns child sexual exploitation is a growing global threat

In a statement, the organisation's Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza calls for stronger cross-border efforts.

“Child sexual abuse and exploitation is among the most heinous crimes and poses one of the greatest challenges for law enforcement,” he says.

Since 2011, Interpol's database has helped identify 65,181 child victims of sexual exploitation and 26,840 perpetrators in 75 countries. In 2026, almost 5,800 children had been identified as of July 31.