Child Pornography, an International Perspective - Essay Example

? Article number Child Pornography, an International Perspective: This paper introduces child pornography as a problem that affects the international community. Because of its adverse negative effects, this paper denotes that the International community formed the UNCRC, which was formed to fight for the rights of children, and protect those rights. However, there are numerous challenges to the study of this phenomenon, and this includes, changes in the international patterns concerning the consumption and production of materials that promote child pornography, lack of relevant information regarding child pornography, and lack of information that fully describes what child pornography is. This paper further denotes that the development of technology, especially in video and computer technology has accelerated the growth of child pornography. In defining the term child pornography, this paper denotes that different countries have their own criteria of defining it. A contributing factor to the disparities in the definition of Child pornography is the standards set for defining a child. For instance, UNCRC defines a child as an individual aged 18 years and below. The paper has managed to give the definition of child pornography as the reproduction of a sexually explicit image of a child. It also distinguishes child erotica, from child pornography. It defines child erotica as materials that aid in child pornography, such as toys, sexually implicit manuals, and children clothing’s. This paper identifies boys and girls, irrespective of their ages as the victims of child pornography. According to this paper, a large percentage of children exploited through child pornography are male. Most of these children are poor and disabled, making them vulnerable to the exploitations. People who exploit children in a sexual manner come from the larger community, and influential members of the society are included. Most of these people are pedophiles, and they are always heterosexual. They are always attracted to any aspects of child pornography, from their production, to consumption. This problem is accelerated by the emergence of technology, especially in video technology, computers, and the internet. Computer system has made it possible for pedophiles to hunt their victims through social sites such as inter relay chat. This paper identifies countries where child pornography flourished, and it identifies countries such as Japan, United States of America, Holland, and Sweden as the main centers of the production of child pornographic materials. It denotes that tourism also played a major role in enhancing child pornography, and this is with the emergence of sex tourism. Most victims of sex tourism were found in third world countries such as Thailand. According to this paper, there are various uses of child pornography, and they are; I. To sexually arouse and gratify the offender. II. To justify and validate the pornographic behavior. III. To sexually seduce the child. IV. To preserve the child age of sexual preference. V. To blackmail the child in order to keep him or her quiet on the sexual experiences he or she has passed through. VI. For business purposes. VII. As a method of building trust with other sexual offenders. VIII. In order to gain access to other pornographic markets. On this basis therefore, child pornography contributes to a large extent to the exploitation and molestation of children. However, the paper denotes that this statement can be debated further. Child pornography can affect a child in two ways, namely through exposure to the pornography itself, and through filming of the child. Child pornography, affects the behavior of children in regard to their sexual believes, violence and force. They portray emotional withdrawal, anxiety and fear, and mood swings. These children are also at risk of becoming pedophiles, and sexual perpetrators at their adult hood. Because of these negative impacts of child pornography, various governments across the world have sought to regulate it. For instance article 34 of the UNCRC prohibits the use of children to promote sexual activities. Countries such as Taiwan, Philippines and Sri Lanka have passed legislations that prohibit and criminalize child pornography. However in Europe, there isn’t any common method of dealing with this vice. For instance in England, it is a criminal offense to distribute, possess or exhibit sexual images of a child, while in the law prohibits only the exhibition and possession of explicit images of a child, but it does not prohibit their production. In North America, the United States has very strict laws that regulate the production of child pornography. These laws are contained in U.S.C 18 and 2252. Canada is also one of the countries in North America that has a set of strict laws that regulate child pornography. To curb the vice, government institutions have sought to regulate the use of the internet. Countries such as the United Kingdom, Canada, Netherlands and Australia have laws that regulate the use of the internet in sending obscene pictures. However United States of America does not have strong laws that regulate child pornography over the internet, or through the use of a computer. This is because of legal challenges that emanate from the regulation of computer generated pictures of child pornography. Article Number 2: This paper analyzes the reasons as to why 13 men, who were convicted of downloading child pornographic materials engaged in the vice, and how the internet played a role in their behavior. This article denotes that the internet is the main medium in which pornographic materials are produced, viewed, stored and disseminated (Quale and Taylor, 2002). The pornographic materials play a role in arousing the offender, and creating a sexual fantasy, therefore justifying his actions and behavior. Due to the emergence of technology, many people, who have not had an history of sexual offense gain access to the materials, and on this note, the dilemma amongst researchers is on whether pedophiles use the internet more for arousal purposes, and child molestation, as compared to the general population. Researchers further denote that there are two models of child molestation, namely coercive and non-coercive, and pedophiles use pornographic materials before sexually abusing children. Researchers encounter difficulties when researching about this phenomenon, and the main limitation they have is on the correct methodology to use in conducting their research. It is difficult to conduct laboratory research because this is a social issue, while much of the earlier researchers have concentrated on how the offenders access pornographic materials. On this basis, the internet emerges as a source of the materials (Quale and Taylor, 2002). The main reason of this is because the information is not commercialized, and is available for free. Another aspect of the internet that makes it possible for child pornography to thrive is it lowers the inhibition of a child, and the social risks that come with traditional friendship and communication. The internet has the capability of creating numerous representations of an individual, and creates an avenue for the advancement of deviant behaviors. The internet also presents a decentralized network, where different groups have a control of their productions. The consequences of this characteristic are that it empowers marginalized groups such as pedophiles to conduct their affairs with anonymity. They use the internet for purposes of sexual satisfaction. Through the internet, pedophiles are able to locate children, and thereafter molest them. This paper manages to get information from 13 convicted child offenders, and the methodology of the research was through an interview (Quale and Taylor, 2002). The following points were common amongst all the 13 respondents; I. Child pornography was a means of arousing their sexual desire. II. Child pornography was a means of collecting materials for reference even though such materials were not sexually explicit. III. Child pornography was a means of creating social relationships and interactions. IV. It was also a means of avoiding real issues that affected their lives. V. It was a form of therapy meant to control their sexual desires. VI. The internet was the main medium that facilitated their behavior because they could download photos, create them, store them and disseminate them. From the discussions with these convicts, the main motivation behind child pornography is for sexual arousal, and is used to promote masturbation. The internet is a useful tool to these people because it ensures privacy, and availability of the pornographic materials. References: Quale, E., & Taylor, M. (2002). child pornography and the internet: perpetuating a cycle of abuse. Deviant Behavior: An Interdisciplinary Journal, 23, 331-361. Read More