Critical Investigative Training Workshop to Combat Online Child Exploitation Hosted in Côte d’Ivoire by Meta, IJM, NCMEC and Other Partners
Online Sexual Exploitation of Children
ABIDJAN, CÔTE D’IVOIRE, Jan 30, 2025 – International Justice Mission (IJM) and its global partners are conducting an investigative training workshop in Abidjan as part of Project Boost, an initiative to strengthen law enforcement responses to reports of suspected online child exploitation. This workshop, running from Jan. 27-31, 2025, marks the culmination of a year-long capacity-building effort that has included weekly remote mentoring sessions to enhance the investigative skills of Ivorian law enforcement agencies, the Direction de l’Information et des Traces Technologiques et la Direction de la Police Criminelle.
Project Boost, led by IJM’s Center to End Online Sexual Exploitation, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), and Meta Platforms Inc., brings together expertise from the U.S. Department of Justice Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (DOJ-CEOS), Homeland Security Investigations, French National Police, Save the Children, and other global organizations. The initiative focuses on equipping law enforcement with the tools and knowledge needed to effectively analyze CyberTipline reports, identify offenders, and protect child victims from online sexual exploitation.
“Child exploitation and sextortion are horrific and global crimes, and we’ve spent years supporting law enforcement in prosecuting the criminals behind them. It’s why we helped build Project Boost, a collaboration designed to support our partners around the world—including here in Côte d'Ivoire—in the fight against predators,” said Jason Barry, Law Enforcement Outreach Director at Meta. “We’re deeply committed to this work and we’re grateful to the IJM, NCMEC and Ivorian law enforcement for their ongoing partnership.”
This workshop builds on the success of an earlier training session held in May 2024 in Abidjan, which introduced critical investigative techniques. Since then, Ivorian authorities have demonstrated remarkable progress, including significant case achievements.
"The commitment to this multi-phase training in Abidjan, with our partners International Justice Mission and Meta, marks a significant step forward in our global effort to combat online child sexual exploitation. By equipping law enforcement agencies with enhanced investigative skills and tools, we are strengthening worldwide capacity to protect children from harm," said John Shehan, Senior Vice President, Exploited Children Division & International Engagement at the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. "Every child deserves a safe childhood, and through international collaboration like this, we move closer to that reality, safeguarding our most vulnerable populations."
This week’s training in Abidjan will reinforce global and local efforts to combat the exploitation of children online, while also addressing the well-being of law enforcement personnel working in this challenging field.
“IJM is extremely grateful for the opportunity to work alongside Ivorian law enforcement to help protect more children globally,” said David Ruggiero, Director, Law Enforcement Capacity Building & Consulting for IJM's Center to End Online Sexual Exploitation of Children. “Increased international collaboration is critical in the fight against online sexual exploitation of children, and we could not conduct this training without the support of so many great partners.”
With its partners, IJM remains committed to supporting justice systems in the fight against online child exploitation and ensuring that children are safeguarded from harm.
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About Meta Platforms Inc.
Meta is building the future of human connection and the technology that makes it possible. When Facebook launched in 2004, it changed the way people connect. Apps like Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp further empowered billions around the world. Now, Meta is moving beyond 2D screens toward immersive experiences like augmented and virtual reality to help build the next evolution in social technology.
About the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) is a private, non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation whose mission is to help find missing children, reduce child sexual exploitation, and prevent child victimization. For more information about NCMEC, please visit our website at ncmec.org.
About International Justice Mission
International Justice Mission partners with local authorities in 33 program offices in 19 countries to combat slavery, violence against women and children and police abuse of power. IJM’s mission is to protect people in poverty from violence by rescuing victims, bringing criminals to justice, restoring survivors to safety and strength, and helping local law enforcement build a safe future that lasts. Learn more at: IJM.ca.
