Zebra Day CSA Survivor Pride
|
There are an estimated 11 million adult CSA survivors in the UK* and we are a devastatingly ever growing community with 15% of girls and 5% of boys** growing up experiencing child sexual abuse. Across the globe, up to 35% of girls and 21% of boys experience sexual violence before their 18th birthday.
Child sexual abuse has devastating social, physical and emotional impacts. Stigma and taboo make it hard for us to access support or develop a sense of connection and belonging. CSA is never a child’s fault, we didn’t do anything wrong and we deserve to live free of shame and guilt. On 31 January 2024 (International Zebra Day) we therefore called the first ever Zebra Day CSA Survivor Pride event with the aim to bring an end to stigma, bear witness to the scale and impact of child sexual abuse, stand alongside survivors in solidarity and celebrate our collective survival. Survivors and allies across the UK and beyond joined us that day in wearing and sharing zebra. In 2025, the campaign was collectively planned by the UpFront Survivors National Creative Social Change Network (NCSCN). This time, we commissioned artists to create a number of short artworks, which you can see below, and we celebrated with a campaign video and a virtual gathering. |
Illustration by Chris Ivory
|
Why zebras?
In 2023 we launched our ABC of CSA - a creative resource developed with over 40 CSA survivors to support better conversations about surviving child sexual abuse. The Z card is "Feeling like a zebra in a world of giraffes", which speaks to many of us about how we live our lives feeling different and are alienated in the dominant culture.
BUT zebras are brilliant and we think they are a potent image to celebrate CSA survival because:
In 2023 we launched our ABC of CSA - a creative resource developed with over 40 CSA survivors to support better conversations about surviving child sexual abuse. The Z card is "Feeling like a zebra in a world of giraffes", which speaks to many of us about how we live our lives feeling different and are alienated in the dominant culture.
BUT zebras are brilliant and we think they are a potent image to celebrate CSA survival because:
- Each zebra has a totally unique stripe pattern reflecting the uniqueness and individuality of each survivor
- They form super herds, understand safety in numbers and the power of community
- Zebras are hyper vigilant and use this natural instinct to protect themselves and each other
- They travel long distances through often harsh terrain to survive
- The collective noun is 'A Dazzle of Zebras
Micro Commissions 2025
|
|
|
Sources:
* Radford, L. et al (2011) Child abuse and neglect in the UK today NSPCC
** The Report of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA), 2022.
* Radford, L. et al (2011) Child abuse and neglect in the UK today NSPCC
** The Report of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA), 2022.