Contributing Organization(s): International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children
Author(s)/Creator(s): International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children
Publishing Date: 2008-01-01
Issue Areas: Children and Youth; Computers and Technology; Crime and Safety
Ownership/Rights Info: Copyright 2008, International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children.
File info: 1 pages; 530.14 KB file size
ICMEC has reviewed the child pornography legislation currently in place in the 187 Interpol Member Countries to gain a better understanding of existing child pornography legislation and to gauge where the issue stands on national political agendas. In particular, we looked to see if national legislation:
- exists with specific regard to child pornography;
- provides a definition of child pornography;
- criminalizes computer facilitated offenses;
- criminalizes possession of child pornography, regardless of the intent to distribute; and
- requires Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to report suspected child pornography to law enforcement or to some other mandated agency.
In April 2006, we released a global report card in the form of our report, Child Pornography: Model Legislation & Global Review. Our end results are, to say the least, shocking. As of July 2009, of the 187 Interpol Member Countries,
- only 35 have legislation sufficient to combat child pornography offenses (6 Member Countries meet all of the criteria set forth above and 29 Member Countries meet all but the last criteria, pertaining to ISP reporting);
- 91 have no legislation at all that specifically addresses child pornography; and
- 124 do not criminalize simple possession legislation.
Pursuant to our 2006 report, ICMEC is working with governments and organizations around the world to create and enhance child pornography laws. We have seen creation of new law in Brazil, Costa Rica, the Czech Republic, Egypt, India, Moldova, and Portugal, and we have seen enhancements to existing legislation in many others, including the Dominican Republic and Hungary.
