According to the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution, and Child Pornography, child pornography is ’any representation, by whatever means, of a child engaged in real or simulated explicit sexual activities or any representation of the sexual parts of a child for primarily sexual purposes’.
In other words, this representation is only considered child pornography when it is for sexual purposes. Therefore, an image of a child’s genital organs that is created and used for educational purposes and institutions is not child pornography.
It is important to note that the exploitation of children and adolescents occurs both at the time the pornographic material is produced and when distributed, disseminated, imported, exported, offered, sold, consumed, or possessed.
Finally, some sectors and certain legislations prefer avoiding the use of the term child pornography. On the one hand, because pornography alludes to an essentially adult activity that generally takes place with the consent of all parties. In this sense, the continued use of child pornography is considered to potentially normalize or legitimize serious crimes, sexual abuse, and violations of children’s and adolescent’s rights. It could also suggest that this sexual material is legal or that it has been created with the consent of the children or adolescents. For that reason, those sectors recommend the use of the term child and adolescent sexual abuse material. Without intending to settle the debate, MODII suggests using this last expression in informal contexts and use the term child pornography in legal spheres.
In other words, this representation is only considered child pornography when it is for sexual purposes. Therefore, an image of a child’s genital organs that is created and used for educational purposes and institutions is not child pornography.
- Visual: photos, movies, drawings, animations, paper or digital images, slides, caricatures, and paintings.
- Audio: voice recordings and phone conversations.
- Audiovisual: shows.
- Written: texts
- Objects: sculptures, decorations, and toys.
It is important to note that the exploitation of children and adolescents occurs both at the time the pornographic material is produced and when distributed, disseminated, imported, exported, offered, sold, consumed, or possessed.
Finally, some sectors and certain legislations prefer avoiding the use of the term child pornography. On the one hand, because pornography alludes to an essentially adult activity that generally takes place with the consent of all parties. In this sense, the continued use of child pornography is considered to potentially normalize or legitimize serious crimes, sexual abuse, and violations of children’s and adolescent’s rights. It could also suggest that this sexual material is legal or that it has been created with the consent of the children or adolescents. For that reason, those sectors recommend the use of the term child and adolescent sexual abuse material. Without intending to settle the debate, MODII suggests using this last expression in informal contexts and use the term child pornography in legal spheres.
References:
The Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution, and Child Pornography. Asamblea General – Resolución A/RES/54/263 del 25 de mayo de 2000. OHCHR. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
Orientaciones terminológicas para la protección de niñas, niños y adolescentes contra la explotación y el abuso sexual. ECPAT /End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and Taffiking of Children for Sexual Purposes (Acabar con la Prostitución Infantil, la Pornografía Infantil y el Tráfico de Niños con fines Sexuales).
ECPAT. Cómo mantenerse seguros/as contra la explotación sexual en internet. Una guía para los/as jóvenes. 2015.
Photo credit: Yupa Watchanakit
The Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution, and Child Pornography. Asamblea General – Resolución A/RES/54/263 del 25 de mayo de 2000. OHCHR. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
Orientaciones terminológicas para la protección de niñas, niños y adolescentes contra la explotación y el abuso sexual. ECPAT /End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and Taffiking of Children for Sexual Purposes (Acabar con la Prostitución Infantil, la Pornografía Infantil y el Tráfico de Niños con fines Sexuales).
ECPAT. Cómo mantenerse seguros/as contra la explotación sexual en internet. Una guía para los/as jóvenes. 2015.
Photo credit: Yupa Watchanakit