Why help? Understanding the role of children and young people in preventing sexual violence as bystanders in England.

Sexual violence against children has profound long-term
consequences on children and young people (UK Government,
2015). Children may be victims, perpetrators or bystanders to
sexual violence, sometimes even concurrently (Hoefnagels &
Zwikker, 2001). Through a qualitative and participatory
research design involving comic-based vignettes, this study will
seek to develop a new framework for understanding the
barriers and facilitators that influence whether and how young
people (14-17 years old) in England may prevent sexual
violence against children as bystanders. Barriers and
facilitators to bystander action of young people vary depending
on the relationship of the bystander to the offender and the
victim. This study will address gaps in the literature on
bystander intervention by extending the application of the
model to sexual violence against children, an issue which has
been understudied thus far (NSPCC, 2015). Notably, children
are the most common bystanders of child abuse yet they are
rarely involved in research about it (Hoefnagels & Zwikker,
2001). Thus, the study will advance knowledge on recognising
young people's agency related to sexual violence prevention
interventions and research. In this, the project critically
challenges the dominant discourse on young people's passive
victimisation. Finally, the study aims to contribute applied
academic policy and practice relevant insights on
understanding young people's roles related to the prevention of
sexual violence against children through the perspective of
young people themselves.