New child protection toolkit helps financial sector combat online child sexual exploitation
19 September 2025
The Department is proud to support the launch of the Child Protection Toolkit, developed by the International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (ICMEC), Freshfields, and FTI Consulting.
This global initiative equips financial institutions with practical tools to detect and disrupt money flows linked to online child sexual exploitation.
New Zealand is one of several countries contributing to this international effort, which recognises that child protection is a shared global responsibility. Unlawful activity takes place in a long list of countries, and no region appears to be immune. This toolkit will strengthen the ability of financial institutions to deter, detect, and disrupt exploitation worldwide by enhancing collaboration across borders and sectors.
“This is a positive initiative that helps prevent the proliferation of child sexual exploitation material (CSEM) and the revictimisation of children," said Jarred Mullen, Director of Digital Safety.
"Given that a significant amount of CSEM is purchased by offenders, improving the ability of the global financial industry to identify offenders and take action to prevent the sale is a welcome step to reducing victimisation and holding offenders to account.”
For access to the Child Protection Toolkit and ICMEC’s full media release, visit: Launch of Child Protection Toolkit for Financial Institutions - International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children
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Notes for media:
DIA uses the term child sexual abuse imagery (PDF, 625KB). The term child pornography downplays the harm of child sexual abuse.
For more information on the role of the Digital Child Exploitation Team, what is online child sexual exploitation and how to report it visit https://www.dia.govt.nz/Preventing-Online-Child-Sexual-Exploitation
Media contact:
Media Desk
Department of Internal Affairs | Te Tari Taiwhenua
Mobile: +64 27 535 8639
Email: media@dia.govt.nz
