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ICMEC URGES SWIFT ADOPTION OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY
LAWS WORLDWIDE FOLLOWING BREAK UP OF MAJOR INTERNATIONAL CHILD PORNOGRAPHY
RING
95 Interpol Member Countries Are Without Child
Pornography Laws
ALEXANDRIA, VA – February 27, 2007 – The
International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children (ICMEC) today
urged world leaders to take immediate steps to create or enhance their
existing child pornography laws, and bring to justice those producing
and distributing child pornography worldwide. To date, 95 of the 186
countries that are members of the Interpol, the world’s most preeminent
law enforcement organization, are without laws that specifically address
child pornography. Dozens more have laws in place that are considered
inadequate.
The call for immediate action follows the dismantling of a major international
child pornography ring by Austrian authorities, who identified more than
2,300 suspects across 77 countries. Investigators said the confiscated
images and videos that were illegally sold and traded on the Internet
were incredibly disturbing and were described as the worst kind of child
sexual abuse.
“The Austrian authorities led a major enforcement action which
underscores the seriousness and enormity of child pornography distribution
in a global market,” said ICMEC President and CEO Ernie Allen. “We
applaud their efforts and encourage the creation, enhancement, and effective
enforcement of child pornography legislation worldwide. We cannot begin
to protect our children, without strict laws in place and dedicated individuals
to enforce them.”
Allen said that while the majority of suspects identified in the Austrian
child pornography ring are operating in countries with comprehensive
child pornography laws, swift enforcement of those laws is imperative
to combating the child pornography epidemic.
Last April, ICMEC conducted a study of the 186 Interpol Member Counties
to determine which have legislation considered comprehensive enough to
make a significant impact on child pornography.
The laws of each country were examined based on the following criteria
set by ICMEC:
- Is child pornography specifically criminalized?
- Does existing law include a legal definition of child pornography?
- Is the simple possession of child pornography a crime?
- Is the distribution of child pornography via computer and the Internet
a crime?
- Are Internet Service Providers (ISPs) required to repot suspected
child pornography to law enforcement?
Allen said the findings were alarming. Just five countries meet all
the criteria. They are Australia, Belgium, France, South Africa and the
United States. Only 23 meet all but the last criteria pertaining
to ISP reporting, and 95 counties have no legislation at all that specifically
addresses child pornography.
Of the remaining counties that DO have legislation specifically
addressing child pornography:
- 55 do not define child pornography in national legislation;
- 27 do not provide for computer-facilitated offenses; and
- 43 do not criminalize possession of child pornography, regardless
of the intent to distribute.
“Since our study was first released, some changes have been made
but much more is necessary especially in the area of Internet Service
Provider reporting,” Allen said. “The recent bust in Austria
is proof positive that the Internet knows no geographic boundaries and
that legislation is crucial to fight these insidious crimes against children. ISPs,
big and small, cannot be complacent in this effort.”
# # #
EDITOR’S NOTE: A copy of the ICMEC report
is available by contacting (703) 837-6111 or visiting www.icmec.org
The
International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children is
a private, nonprofit 501 (c) (3) nongovernmental organization. It is
the leading agency working on a global basis to combat child abduction
and exploitation. It is the sister organization of the National Center
for Missing & Exploited Children.
Contact:
NCMEC Communications Department
(703) 837-6111
media@ncmec.org
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