EU Technical Specialist Sexual Exploitation of Children

Consultancy: EU Advocacy on Online Child Sexual Exploitation (OCSE)
Period: 1 January – 1 June 2026
Duration: Up to 40 consultancy days, max. EUR 24,000
Location: Brussels 

1. Background and Rationale

Terre des Hommes Netherlands (TdH NL) is a leading child rights organisation with extensive experience in preventing and responding to sexual exploitation of children (SEC), including online child sexual exploitation (OCSE) and technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV). Through programmes such as SCROL, SUFASEC, and the SEC Thematic Programme, TdH NL works with partners across Africa, Asia, and Latin America to strengthen survivor-centred protection systems, shift harmful norms, and influence policy at national, regional, and global levels.

In the European context, evolving EU legislative and policy processes on digital safety, platform accountability, and child protection present a critical opportunity to strengthen rights-based, gender-responsive, and survivor-centred approaches to OCSE. TdH NL seeks a specialised consultant to support strategic EU-level advocacy, ensuring that evidence that centres children's voices meaningfully inform EU policy debates and decision-making.

2. Purpose of the Consultancy

The purpose of this consultancy is to strengthen TdH NL's European Union advocacy on OCSE, ensuring alignment with EU legislative and policy processes, amplifying children's voices, and advancing gender-responsive, child-centred, and survivor-informed approaches to online safety and exploitation.

3. Scope of Work

Under the technical guidance of TdH NL, the consultant will:

EU Policy Analysis and Positioning

• Analyse ongoing and upcoming EU policy and legislative processes relevant to OCSE, digital platforms, and child protection.
  
• Identify strategic entry points for TdH NL engagement with EU institutions (European Commission, European Parliament, Council, and relevant agencies).
  
• Ensure alignment with international human rights standards, including the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, CEDAW, and relevant UN Special Procedures.
  

Advocacy Strategy and Content Development

• Support the refinement and implementation of TdH NL's EU advocacy strategy on OCSE.
  
• Draft and/or review EU-focused advocacy products (policy briefs, position papers, submissions, talking points), drawing on evidence from TdH NL programmes such as SCROL and SUFASEC.
  
• Integrate gender and intersectional analysis, highlighting the differentiated impact of OCSE and TFGBV on girls, LGBTQI+ children, children with disabilities, and children in situations of poverty or displacement.
  

Coalition-Building and Engagement

• Support coordination with European and global civil society coalitions working on child online safety and digital rights, including accompanying a TdH staff member to coalition meetings when necessary.
  
• Provide technical input for engagement with EU policy makers, regulators, and other stakeholders, including preparation for meetings, hearings, and consultations. Representation in platforms/high-level meetings together with TdH colleagues.
  
• Strengthen links between EU-level advocacy and regional/global influencing efforts led by TdH NL and partners.
  

Knowledge Translation and Learning

• Translate practice-based knowledge and partner evidence into EU-relevant advocacy narratives.
  
• Support internal reflection and learning on EU advocacy approaches, feeding lessons back into TdH NL's SEC thematic and advocacy work.

Inclusive, Safe and Meaningful Child Participation

The Consultant will ensure that children's rights, lived experiences, and voices are meaningfully and safely integrated into EU-level advocacy on online child sexual exploitation, in line with TdH NL's child-centred and rights-based approach.

This includes:

• Designing and supporting ethical, inclusive, and safe mechanisms for child participation in advocacy processes related to EU digital safety, online exploitation, and platform accountability.
  
• Ensuring all advocacy inputs drawing on children's experiences adhere to do-no-harm principles, safeguarding standards, trauma-informed practice, and informed consent, including safeguarding risk assessment and mitigation for online and offline participation.
  
• Translating children's perspectives, evidence, and priorities into policy-relevant advocacy messages, briefings, and recommendations for EU institutions (European Commission, European Parliament, Council), without exposing children to harm or tokenism.
  
• Working closely with TdH NL partners and youth-led or child-led groups to amplify existing child- and youth-generated evidence, participatory research findings, and advocacy messages rather than creating extractive consultation processes.
  
• Supporting the integration of meaningful child participation standards into EU advocacy strategies, positioning children not only as beneficiaries but as rights-holders and experts in their own online safety.

4. Deliverables

Indicative deliverables include:

• At least two evidence-based EU-focused advocacy products (e.g. policy briefs, submissions, or position papers) developed by TdH NL or as joint products co-created within coalitions. 
• Brief report summarising advocacy engagement, outcomes, lessons learned and recommendations for upcoming opportunities.
• Operational Plan for Safe, Inclusive and Ethical Child and Parent Participation in EU Advocacy.
• Mentoring plan and report for supporting the junior advocacy specialist in the EU.
  

5. Reporting and Management

The consultant will report to the SEC Programme Manager and will work closely with a junior EU technical specialist and the Netherlands SEC Programme Manager. Regular check-ins will ensure alignment with organisational priorities and evolving EU policy timelines.

6. Required Profile

• Proven expertise in EU policy and advocacy related to child protection, online safety, or digital rights.
  
• Strong understanding of OCSE, SEC, and technology-facilitated violence, including gender dimensions.
  
• Demonstrated experience translating practice-based or field evidence into policy influence.
• Demonstrated experience in meaningful, ethical, and safe child and youth participation, particularly in advocacy, policy influencing, or digital-rights contexts.
  
• Strong understanding of safeguarding, trauma-informed practice, power dynamics, and participation risks when engaging children affected by online sexual exploitation and technology-facilitated GBV.
  
• Ability to translate participatory insights into high-level policy advocacy while maintaining child protection, dignity, and confidentiality.
  
• Excellent analytical and writing skills in English; knowledge of EU institutional processes required.
• High proficiency in English, with French as an advantage.

7. Application process

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until filled. Please submit the following information:

• Cover letter
• Resume
• Detailed quotation