Stand Strong, Walk Tall: Prehabilitation for a Better Future - A Sexual Abuse Prevention Project. Phase One: Intervention Development

Abstract

Eighty-four percent of child sexual abuse convictions received in Aotearoa New Zealand in a given year are to individuals not previously known to have committed sexual offences. Yet, current approaches to preventing such crimes are dominated by efforts within the justice system to rehabilitate those who have already been convicted – effective at preventing reoffences but neglecting the prevention of initial offending (i.e., the 84%). The Stand Strong, Walk Tall research collaboration strives to address this gap. Our work pursues dual aims: • Introduce within New Zealand communities a preventive intervention for individuals who experience sexual interest in children; and • Develop this intervention as a joint treatment and research initiative, in order to contribute to knowledge accumulation regarding the target population and their treatment needs, and thereby inform continuous service improvement. The overarching objective is, of course, to reduce the incidence of children being harmed, as well as enhance the wellbeing of the group who receive services. These objectives are consistent with key priorities of the New Zealand government announced in the 2019 Wellbeing Budget. This report represents Phase One of the Stand Strong, Walk Tall initiative – the design of the preventive intervention. Phase One was endorsed by the cross-government Sexual Violence Prevention Advisory Board, and funded by the Ministry of Social Development.