A significant increase has been noticed in the number of identified victims of child sexual exploitation in recent years. In the first seven months of 2026, nearly 5,800 new victims have been identified through the International Child Sexual Exploitation (ICSE) Database of Interpol. In 2025, there was the largest annual increase in identifications since ICSE's creation in 2011. As of 31 July 2026, 65,181 victims had been identified.
The rise in victim identifications is also linked to a growing number of cases involving children who are coerced, manipulated, or coerced into producing self-generated abuse material. These cases often generate large volumes of media per victim, increasing the likelihood of detection.
The global efforts to combat child sexual exploitation include the creation of dedicated national victim identification units, expanded victim identification task forces, and stronger cross-border coordination. Crime Against Children Unit works to locate and safeguard child victims, block access to child sexual abuse material, and identify the offenders.
Victim identification involves the detailed analysis of images and videos to locate and rescue child sexual abuse victims. Online child sexual abuse is one of the rare crime areas where investigators start with the evidence and work back to the crime scene. The image can be discovered through child exploitation investigation, protective monitoring of online platforms, forensic analysis of seized mobiles, laptops, and digital storage units, etc.
Once images are found, victim identification specialists take over. They go through the images with a fine-toothed comb with the objective of removing the child from harm and arresting the abuser. A key tool in this is the International Child Sexual Exploitation Database, which includes image comparison software that helps victim identification specialists compare and exchange information on material and active investigations.
The crime against children unit of Interpol is available to advise member countries on how to set up victim identification units and provides a number of specialized training programs