violence against children WORLD REPORT ON - CRIN

Cyber-space and cyber-threats – the challenges ofInternet and communication technologiesAccess to information is a child’s right and has an important role in transmitting newknowledge and facilitating the adoption of life-enhancing pro-social behaviours andvalues. In terms of protecting children, technology has certainly helped in makinginformation and advice more available, for example through ‘child help lines’ (http://www.chiworld.org), and also via the Internet, although the quality is difficult to regulate.Better communication has also increased the potential for protecting children.However, where children’s access to the media and printed images is not appropriatelysupervised by parents or other caregivers, it allows exposure to violent, abusive andpornographic material.312Violence against children in the communityMany contributors to the Study voiced concern that Governments were not doingenough to limit children’s exposure to images of violence and male domination ofwomen and girls on television, films, video games and the Internet, that endorse ideasof violence, verbal aggression and sexism as norms and lower sensitivity to violence. 168A review by the International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children found anurgent need to need increase the number of countries with laws in place related toInternet child pornography. 169The specific threats to children from the internet and communications technologies(ICTs) stem from exposure to violent imagery including through video and onlinegames, and also the production, distribution and use of materials depicting sexual violenceand more specifically, child sexual abuse and pornography. While the problems ofexposure have been well documented in industrialised countries, little is known aboutwhat takes place in developing countries. A study in three cities of Pakistan – Karachi,Lahore, and Peshawar – in 2001, showed that many children are exposed to pornographyin Internet cafes. Almost 50% of the children interviewed in the study reportedvisiting pornographic sites, and over 80% could name a number of such sites. Most ofthe children interviewed were from poor neighbourhoods, or were child workers. 170Online solicitation of children or ‘grooming’ (securing a child’s trust in order to drawthem into a situation where they may be harmed) for such purposes is difficult tocurtail in any jurisdiction, let alone across international borders. In addition, the phenomenonof ‘cyber-bullying’ is emerging in tandem with the proliferation of mobilephones. 171 A 2006 survey in the UK showed that more than one in 10 children aged