Nathalie Gaal-Franse, an expert in online sexual abuse at Fonds Slachtofferhulp: ‘’Young people who experience online sexual abuse still too often remain under the radar. They feel ashamed or struggle with feelings of guilt, which means they do not dare to talk about it, let alone seek help. That is why we refer to a ‘dark figure’. In addition, victim blaming hinders the recovery of many victims. By placing the blame on the victim, we indirectly give perpetrators a free pass and fail to solve this societal problem. A no-blame, no-shame culture is essential in every respect.”
The young people who developed this ‘no blame, no shame’ campaign together with WTFFF!? all experienced negative consequences and struggled with feelings of shame and guilt. Participant Rosanne: “I was always looked at as if I was in the wrong, and people said that I should not have sent a photo. Nobody looked at the people who forwarded the photo, even though they were the ones in the wrong. By taking part and sharing my story, I hope that people who receive an intimate photo will no longer forward it and that the person who took the photo will never again be blamed.”
Portraits
For this campaign, the young people were portrayed by photographer and survivor Robin Griffin, and together they creatively edited their portraits. During this workshop, hosted by Sarah Dekker-Aloui of The Safe Space Club, they discussed the events and emotional regulation. The participants created a mind map, wrote a letter—for example, to the perpetrator—and each created a unique work expressing the feelings they experienced as a result of the online sexual abuse.
With the “join #noblamenoshame” campaign, young people, together with WTFFF!?, are creating a movement. They are calling on others to share an important message: if you experience online sexual abuse, I will not blame or shame you; I will be there for you.
About WTFFF!?
WTFFF!? is an initiative of Fonds Slachtofferhulp. At wtfff.nl, the personal stories of young people who have experienced online sexual abuse and overcome it are central. WTFFF!? explains the consequences of online sexual abuse, refers people to professional help and offers the opportunity to share an experience themselves, anonymously. The aim is to create awareness together with young people, reduce stigma and lower the threshold for seeking help.