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Theme Paper for the Second World Congress Against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children: The Role and Involvement of the Private Sector

NCJ Number
195565
Author(s)
Mark E. Hecht
Date Published
October 2001
Length
44 pages
Annotation
This document details the involvement of the private sector in undermining commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC).
Abstract
The travel and tourism industries have taken a lead role in undermining CSEC by promoting codes of conduct, training programs for employees, and campaigns for public education through projects such as message luggage tags. Achievements have also been made by the media-related businesses. Journalists have met to draft ethical codes aimed at defining ways to discuss and portray CSEC in effective and non-exploitative manners. The photography and film industries have also begun discussion on how they can avoid contributing to CSEC. Private photo-processors have created internal policies to report any questionable materials processed. The unregulated nature and growth of the Internet has provided child exploiters the opportunity of anonymity in creating different and new forms of CSEC. International gatherings have set out a number of guiding principles and suggestions as to how the Internet can be controlled. The responsibilities of private sector Internet companies have been examined. Technologies are being developed to filter and rate content so that individuals and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) can prevent harmful material from entering their spheres. Research is currently being conducted to verify the extent to which ISPs can be expected to participate in the elimination of child pornography from the Internet. In spite of the commendable efforts made by the private sector in the past few years, there are barriers to the full implementation of their commitments and obligations. Codes of conduct and best practice guidelines appear to be the most effective means of achieving these ends, but because such codes are non-binding and too new to have been tested, their ultimate feasibility is unclear. 139 endnotes