Like child trafficking, child pornography is also a billion dollar industry that sexually exploits minors using mass media. Even if its manufacture, possession or distribution is illegal in most countries, it still remains the fastest growing criminal enterprise today. The Internet and other technological advancements have made production and distribution of these materials easy and discreet.
Some people consider pornography a harmless, profitable and easy way to earn money since it does not require physical contact. However, pornographic images serve as permanent and tangible records of a child’s exploitation. Children in pornography are forever seen as sex objects. They are repeatedly victimized throughout life, as there are no limits to the circulation of their images both online and offline.
Despite international efforts to curb this crime, child pornography remains as widespread as ever: As more pedophiles take advantage of their online anonymity, there is an increasing demand for luring children into this sick industry of perversion and degraded humanity.
A report funded by the United Nations Children’s Fund’s (UNICEF) reveals advances in technology as a factor in the worsening case of child pornography, especially in areas where Internet cafes flourish. According to the study, while digital technology allows traffickers to recruit children online, it also facilitates the easy distribution of pornography through e-mail, chat rooms and e-groups.
Recommended readings:
Google Tackles Child Pornography
The Nature and Dimensions of Child Pornography on the Internet
International Agencies Involved in the Fight Against Child Pornography