Reclaiming Safety for Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse

This resource was created by Roxanna Asgarian and upEND Movement.

In Roxanna Asgarian’s contribution to the upEND Movement’s Reclaiming Safety essay series, survivors of child sexual abuse express in their own words what they want and need to feel safe. In contrast to punitive and carceral family policing interventions, we hear survivors of child sexual abuse talk about what real help looks like: responses that provide safety and support, honor family and community relationships with empathy and compassion, and value healing, connection, accountability, and care. 

Drawing on the wisdom of survivors, Asgarian posits powerful questions that challenge us to respond more humanely to child sexual harm in ways that prioritize youth agency, center healing, and hold promise for ending intergenerational cycles of harm, silence, pain, and shame.