Weak laws and fragmented industry action is exposing children around the world to increasingly serious violence through the Internet and other cyber technologies, according to a new ECPAT International report on Violence Against Children in Cyberspace.

The report, launched on 11 November 2005, was written by ECPAT International with leading experts around the world as a contribution to the UN Study on Violence Against Children. 

Forms of cyber violence against children outlined in the report include: child pornography and ‘live’ online sexual abuse for paying customers, online sexual solicitation, cyber stalking and bullying, and access to illegal and harmful materials. Child exploiters also use cyberspace to network for child sex tourism and trafficking.

The report calls for stronger legislation and law enforcement, a global industry body to set and monitor child protection standards, and comprehensive education campaigns against the demand for children for sexual purposes. 

“This report gives the global community no excuse for saying that ‘we didn’t know’ or ‘we couldn’t foresee’ the exponentially increasing violence caused to children in relation to new information and communication technologies.” 
Prof. Paulo Pinheiro, Independent Expert, UN Secretary-General's Study on Violence Against Children

• Press release: ECPAT Cyberspace report launch [11 November 2005]
• Communiqué sur le Rapport Cyberespace [11 November 2005]
• Comunicado de prensa: ECPAT lanzamiento del informe Ciberespacio [11 Noviembre 2005]

See also:

• ECPAT Roundtable Meeting of Experts on Violence against Children in Cyberspace [12-13 June 2005, Bangkok, Thailand]

• make-IT-safe

• The UN Study on Violence Against Children