Two-week Europol task force identifies 18 sexually abused children worldwide

Two-week Europol task force identifies 18 sexually abused children worldwide Experts from 28 countries joined forces in The Hague to locate victims of child sexual exploitation The 19th edition of Europol’s Victim Identification Task Force (VIDTF) has tentatively identified 18 children, marking another remarkable step in the fight against child sexual exploitation. From 7 to 18 September 2026, experts from 28 countries, Europol, and INTERPOL gathered at Europol’s headquarters in The Hague, where they analysed 377 datasets, successfully geolocating 147 victims. In addition, five offenders based in several countries were also identified. The Victim Identification Task Force brings together experts from across the globe to combat child sexual exploitation. During the VIDTF, specialists analyse data, images, videos, and intelligence to identify clues that may help identify victims and offenders, or at least help determine the country where the material likely originated. Europol has been hosting VIDTFs since 2014. During that time, the task forces have overall resulted in: - 1 260 identified victims; - 348 apprehended offenders; - 8 642 datasets/series analysed; - 2 608 leads sent. Over a hundred children identified in 2025 Using Europol’s Image and Video Analysis System (IVAS), experts examine and categorise material into series, cross-check data against Europol’s systems to create and enrich intelligence packages, and disseminate actionable leads to national and international partners. Europol hosts VIDTFs twice a year. During one such event held in 2025, an expert arrived at Europol’s headquarters with a substantial amount of data from a national case, which she shared with her colleagues on the task force. By cross-checking information and tracing specific details, over a hundred children, whom an offender had been grooming, were fully identified and safeguarded. “Most of them were girls, the youngest being only nine years old,” states the expert, who has been part of Europol’s VIDTF for over 10 years. A successful format replicated beyond Europol’s HQ Specialists come from as far as New Zealand: "Having all these contacts is very rewarding, especially for me, because I usually work with people from Australia, America, and Asia - but not Europe," says the officer representing New Zealand. "The benefit of coming to Europol for the VIDTF is that there are around 30 officers from countries all around the world sitting in the same room. Getting feedback on cases we have worked on previously, live from the representatives of other countries, is valuable and encouraging”. This collaborative approach has proven highly effective, enabling experts to share knowledge, generate tangible results and facilitate rapid information exchange. As a result, Europol’s successful model for identifying victims of child sexual exploitation has become a benchmark for Member States. This year, Poland and Italy adopted the format. More than 28 000 tips received since 2017 While VIDTFs take place twice a year, Europol has a permanent campaign addressed to citizens. Launched on 1 June 2017, the “Stop Child Abuse – Trace an Object” campaign invites the public to help identify visual clues (such as objects, clothing, backgrounds, landscapes) in child sexual abuse material. Since 2017: - More than 28 600 tips have been received; - 23 investigations have been initiated at national level; - 35 victims and 9 offenders have been identified so far; - A total of 319 objects have been published on Trace an Object website, of which 131 are linked to likely countries of production. Participating countries and organisations in the VIDTF 19 Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechia, Estonia, France, Greece, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Australia, Iceland, Moldova, New Zealand, Norway, Serbia, United Kingdom, Ukraine, United States, Europol, INTERPOL. Note to media Europol encourages you to use the term ‘child (sexual) abuse material’ and not ‘child pornography’ in your reporting. The use of the term ‘child pornography’ helps child sex abusers as it indicates legitimacy and compliance on the part of the victim, and therefore legality on the part of the sex abuser. By using the phrase ‘child pornography’, it conjures up images of children posing in ‘provocative’ positions, rather than suffering horrific abuse. Every photograph or video captures an actual situation where a child has been abused. This is not pornography. Empact The European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats (EMPACT) tackles the most important threats posed by organised and serious international crime affecting the EU. EMPACT strengthens intelligence, strategic and operational cooperation between national authorities, EU institutions and bodies, and international partners. EMPACT runs in four-year cycles focusing on common EU crime priorities.