15 Years of the Lanzarote Convention: Surviving childhood sexual abuse through art
To mark the 15th anniversary of the entry into force of the Lanzarote Convention, the Council of Europe held an art exhibition that brought to light the lived experiences of victims and survivors of childhood sexual abuse. 15 works of visual art, as well as spoken and written word, were created by victims and survivors from six different countries. They were accompanied by the authors’ own words, including their thoughts about the most important measures States can take to prevent child sexual abuse.
The art exhibition was organised under the auspices of the Maltese Presidency of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers and in collaboration with the Brave Movement, a global association of survivors of childhood sexual abuse.
The exhibition was on display in the Palais de l’Europe in Strasbourg between 16 and 27 June.
Watch the short video about the exhibition launch
Some of the artworks below may be triggering or distressing to certain viewers
Anthony Lyons - without title (United Kingdom)
This image is inspired by the statistic that 1 in 6 male children are sexually abused. The child is represented by the central figure. The surrounding black figures with skulls represent the adults – faceless, threatening presences who embody fear, danger, and mistrust. The child looks upwards and beyond, a gesture of emotional detachment and a desperate search for safety. He feels looked down upon, disbelieved, and silenced by the adults he perceives as faceless monsters.
The child, too, is depicted with a skull, reflecting how he sees himself as a faceless, monstrous figure, incapable of being loved. This internalised image festers and grows over time, fuelled by self-loathing and deep, enduring shame. Though he wants to run and hide, there is nowhere to go. He is left feeling helpless and frozen.
Emma Webb – sports abuse (United Kingdom)
I am a writer, nurse, parent, survivor activist and survivor support advocate calling out the hidden horrors of institutional abuse, much of which happens within the unsafe arena of children’s sport. My book Historic is launching worldwide in July of this year. A shocking exposé memoir that every parent should read before throwing their children blindly into child sport.
What, in your opinion, is the most important measure a State can take to prevent child sexual abuse?
The most critical measure a State can take is to implement a comprehensive, coordinated prevention strategy that includes robust deterrents through meaningful consequences. The current system essentially operates as a protection racket for perpetrators. We need sentences that match the severity of these crimes, consistent prosecution, and an end to the revolving door justice system that currently emboldens offenders.
Ezra Rickman – Whispers (United Kingdom)
I created this to express the everyday reality of living with religious psychosis in the aftermath of abuse. I drew this piece during my recovery from a severe psychotic episode, during which I felt the book of revelation would come to pass. The perpetrator of the child sexual abuse weaponised my religious upbringing to silence me. In this painting, my aim is to illustrate the terror of going about your daily life while managing the weight of post-traumatic stress disorder resulting from the abuse I experienced. The trumpet calls of Judgement Day as I am trying to buy something at the corner shop.
What, in your opinion, is the most important measure a State can take to prevent child sexual abuse?
Take all reports as seriously as possible, value the knowledge and answers of the child. Rather than brushing off the child, ask why they are acting the way they are acting. Have a survivor in all offices of disclosure.
Riina Marin - Rakkaus on Sotkuista (Love is Messy) (Finland)
I was groomed via the internet and sexually abused by a 30-year-old man when I was 14. I made the painting to honour my husband, who has walked by my side through all the pain and sorrow of trying to heal my inner child. The hands holding each other are mixing in colours, staining one another just as I have done with my husband. Painting is my go-to form of therapy.
What, in your opinion, is the most important measure a State can take to prevent child sexual abuse?
Education and healthcare are crucial for a State to consider if they want to effectively prevent child sexual abuse. We have to make sure children know that no one is allowed to cross their limits, and the potential abusers need preventive help from healthcare without judgement.
Gemma Baker - Without title (United Kingdom)
This painting expresses my journey of breaking through darkness and finding light after enduring abuse. I was abused as a child and, as a result, have suffered with severe depression during adulthood. As a teenager, I was sectioned in an asylum, a place that was shut down in 2003 due to the [further] abuse people like myself suffered from there. Those experiences have stayed with me, affected my relationships and how I manage my day-to-day life. This painting shows that feeling of being lost in those memories but finding light and a ‘break’ through the pain.
Hemppa Pilvipuro - Mörkö Tulee Yöllä (Boogieman Comes at Night) (Finland)
The painting is about my father, who sexually abused me throughout all my childhood. I do not remember it that well, so the painting is based on hazy flashbacks and nightmares I used to have as a child. The memories from the early years of my childhood and the abuse still remain hazy, and most vividly, I remember the terror I used to feel and that is what the painting is about.
What, in your opinion, is the most important measure a State can take to prevent child sexual abuse?
I urge States to incorporate comprehensive and age-appropriate sex education into school curricula. This should include teaching children about personal boundaries and their rights, which is essential for effectively preventing and addressing child sexual abuse.
John Slater - Another World Lies Between the Present and the Past (United Kingdom)
The abused boy is left isolated floating in the sky disassociated. I remember it was as if I was not there, I would float away through the window and into the sky. When I think of the sexual abuse, I picture it always from above as if I was looking down on it, I am not actually there. The words say how it made me feel and left me isolated and sick. I am just nothing, I am not here, I am nowhere, I am trapped in the space in-between. I tried to escape the world of the abuse in my mind if not physically, but I no longer felt safe or welcome in my everyday world either anymore.
John Slater now co-leads moMENtum, a survivor support organisation that advocates for improved services and support for survivors.
This piece represents my journey of healing my inner child after all the hardships she endured, moments that seemed destined to be her last. Yet, we are both still here, healing through creativity, no longer trapped in survival mode after over 15 years. While the scars of abuse will always leave an imprint, I have finally found inner freedom. There are still rough moments, but I have reached a place of contentment.
What, in your opinion, is the most important measure a State can take to prevent child sexual abuse?
States need to ensure that children understand consent in a child-friendly way by teaching them about boundaries, self-agency, and to know when something feels wrong. Doing this through the institutions they engage with from a young age, while making sure they know who they can talk to and feel safe doing so.
Andrew Watts - Without title (United Kingdom)
A friend asked me to create this. He envisioned a clenched fist composed of small human figures, with the words ‘honesty’ and ‘believe’ woven into the design. It was important to him that the scars on his forearm were visible. He was sexually abused as a child and as he grew up, he turned to self-harm, alcohol, gambling, and drugs to distract himself from the memories. Eventually, he reported his abuser to the police, but no charges were brought forward. It was his word against that of a well-respected member of the community. The impact to his family when he revealed the abuse was a huge shock.
Sarah Michelle - Without title (United Kingdom)
The painting is a self-portrait, but I was never able to complete it. I felt as though something had been taken from me, something irreplaceable, and afterward, I no longer recognised my own face. Since then, I have struggled with mirrors and have avoided having my photo taken. It has taken me 35 years to truly begin to name what happened. Having my painting here is part of that ongoing process, an attempt to reclaim something that was lost and to speak the truth I’ve long held in silence.
What, in your opinion, is the most important measure a State can take to prevent child sexual abuse?
The most important measure a State can take to prevent child sexual abuse is to enforce stronger sentencing for perpetrators, because the damage they cause is life-altering and, in many ways, equivalent to murder. We also need comprehensive education for children about grooming and adult behaviour, and a system that treats victims with compassion, not dismissal.
Donald Carr - Lies My Father Taught Me (Canada)
I employ the art of spoken word as a catalyst to push the audience to engage critically with troubling questions such as racism and homophobia, sexual violence, and the realities of masculinity. Being able to tell your own story is life-affirming. It is evidence of your existence through your struggle and strife. Words have power, to hurt or to heal. I’ve used my words. It hurt, but it also brought healing. Creating this poem exposed my trauma to the light, my vulnerability to myself. It allowed me to embrace my inner child who needed to be loved, not hurt, uplifted, or belittled. This poem is a cri de coeur. A love song to myself and other survivors. None of us is as strong as ALL of us together.
Donald Carr is part of the Gatehouse Global Poetry Movement, an initiative aimed at uniting voices from around the world through the art of poetry.
What, in your opinion, is the most important measure a State can take to prevent child sexual abuse?
The State must ensure that every case of molestation is prosecuted fully. A child does not realise that they have been victimised until after. Shame and fear silence the acknowledgement. Family education is vital for a modicum of success. Survivors need to have their voices heard as a part of the healing process.
Thierry Brulavoine - Apart from Holding On? (France)
For several years, under the control of a serial paedophile, table tennis coach, and private Catholic school teacher, I was the victim of sexual assault and rape.
What do you think is the most important measure a state can take to prevent child sexual abuse?
In the current context, making sexual crimes against children subject to no statute of limitations is the strongest measure a State can take. Because in such crimes, there are two parties responsible: the perpetrator and the human community that fails to do everything in its power to prevent them.
Kristian Chestnut - The Paths of Righteousness (United States of America)
I am a survivor of childhood sexual abuse at the United Methodist Church. I wrote this poem about the meaning of justice while my legal case was pending.
What, in your opinion, is the most important measure a State can take to prevent child sexual abuse?
The most important measure a State can take is to ensure rigorous vetting of all adults working with children, including FBI background checks. In addition, requiring two-adult supervision and using surveillance in schools can greatly deter abuse and increase accountability.
Michael Brown - 7 years (United Kingdom)
Michael Brown is a published poet, author and audiobook narrator from Manchester, United Kingdom. He is a survivors advocate and has worked as a researcher in Cambridge focusing on bipolar disorder and mental imagery.
What, in your opinion, is the most important measure a State can take to prevent child sexual abuse?
Make it compulsory for all professionals to report any suspected abuse or related concerns, with legal consequences for non-compliance. Additionally, safeguards should be implemented to ensure children are not left alone with an adult. These may include keeping doors open, installing large windows, ensuring regular check-ins, or arranging for rooms to be adjacent to other occupied spaces, since most incidents occur when an adult has unsupervised, extended access to a child.
Siiri Jukkola - All Mothers Do Their Best - But in What? (Finland)
In my opinion, people are against child sexual abuse until the criminal is their family member or friend. My illusion of safety was shattered: the advice “tell someone and you’ll be safe” turned into a harsh reality of “they knew all the time and focused on controlling me”. Listening to what survivors say about social dynamics is vital. It is a can of worms many people do not want to open even though it could provide the possibility to catch big fishes.
What, in your opinion, is the most important measure a State can take to prevent child sexual abuse?
Ensuring maternal and post-natal healthcare (mental, physical, psychological etc.) improves mother-child bonding and makes children less vulnerable to being groomed and mothers less vulnerable to being ashamed of their imperfections and mistakes. As my mother was a victim of domestic violence by my biological father and she did not get help after successfully escaping, she only protected the children she had in this new relationship, but not us, as we reminded her about her past.
Watch the short video about the exhibition launch
