Fighting Stigmatization of Survivors of Sexual Exploitation of Children: An Exploratory Mixed-methods Case Study of the School for Justice

Abstract

The goal of this explorative case-study was to present an understanding of potential working elements and conditions for interventions targeting stigmatization of SEC and to formulate implications for the School For Justice (SFJ) case to actuate their theoretical framework. This is relevant since little research exists on this subject. After performing a literature search and interviews with staff and students of the SFJ (N = 8), four potential working elements (PWE) and three conditions (PC) with underlying dimensions were synthesized. The four PWE’s are: Change Agency, Holistic Intervention, Awareness Elements and Peers destigmatizing Peers. The three PC’s are: Non-judgemental Environments, Trauma-informed Care Context and Input Survivors. Most findings from the interviews validated, restructured and rephrased the findings of the literature study, but some added new insights, such as the dimension Graduate Involvement. The SFJ can take the findings of this research to further develop their theoretical foundation. More research on interventions targeting stigma surrounding SEC is necessary to establish a broader theoretical framework.