In October 2024, UNICEF estimated that 90 million children alive today have experienced sexual violence, and more than a billion adults are themselves survivors of sexual violence experienced in childhood. Despite providing shocking and invaluable information, it highlights the lack of consistent, reliable data on sexual violence against children (VAC).

Health experts consider there is an epidemic of child sexual abuse (CSA) with direct and indirect impact on many physical and mental health outcomes, including HIV & AIDS. The Caribbean region has the second highest rate of HIV prevalence in the world, and CSA is one of the cultural and social factors driving the epidemic within the region.

A growing number of researchers, practitioners, and advocates call for a more holistic, multi-disciplinary response rooted in public health to tackle the complex, multifaceted issue of CSA.

Focusing on the prevention of child sexual abuse in the Caribbean region, this study aims to connect children’s rights framework and the public health approach to violence prevention. It could help inform the adoption of a public health approach to CSA prevention within the Cayman Islands.