LYON, France – Marking the UN International Day of Police Cooperation (7 September), INTERPOL Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza underscored the critical role of international collaboration in addressing child sexual exploitation, calling for strengthened cross-border efforts to protect vulnerable populations.
The call comes as INTERPOL's International Child Sexual Exploitation (ICSE) database has helped identify 65,181 child victims and 26,840 offenders in 75 countries since its launch in 2011, including nearly 5,800 child victims identified in 2026, as of 31 July.
This year's International Day of Police Cooperation is centered on the theme 'Protecting against Vulnerability – Building Trust and Legitimacy in Policing', recognizing the vital role of law enforcement in preventing harm, supporting victims and bringing offenders to justice.
Child sexual exploitation, human trafficking, cybercrime and organized crime routinely cross national borders, making international information sharing and coordinated law enforcement action essential to protecting vulnerable people and disrupting criminal networks.
Through INTERPOL's network of 196 member countries, information shared in one country can support investigations and operational activity in another, helping police identify victims, locate missing persons, apprehend offenders and prevent further harm.
The impact of this cooperation is often felt most strongly by vulnerable populations, including children and victims of trafficking, sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment, whose protection frequently depends on timely cross-border investigations and victim-centered policing.
INTERPOL Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza said:
"The sexual abuse and exploitation of children is among the most horrific and challenging crimes for law enforcement. The number of child victims identified through INTERPOL's ICSE database demonstrates the global scale of this abuse and the importance of working together against crime.
"On the UN International Day of Police Cooperation, we recognize collectively that protecting vulnerable people requires action across borders. By collaborating internationally, law enforcement agencies can identify victims faster, stop offenders and ensure that borders never become barriers to protection or justice."
The UN International Day of Police Cooperation recognizes the contribution of police services worldwide to international peace, security and sustainable development.
