Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | News Video | Crime | Employers | Housing | Immigration | Legal | Local Govt. | Maori | Welfare | Unions | Youth | Search

 

Child Pornography -Condemnation Of Weak Sentence

Media release 23 July 2003


Child Pornography -Condemnation Of Weak Sentence


The 300 hrs community work sentence handed down today to Aucklander Alan Price, for trading images of children having sex with adult men, and explicit Internet chat between adult men wanting, and describing, sex with young girls, was condemned by anti-child pornography group ECPAT.

Included were images claiming to be of incest.

Spokesperson for ECPAT, Denise Ritchie, says “Such a weak sentence can only be condemned. It provides no deterrent to others. More importantly, it trivialises the sexual violation and sexual exploitation of children.”

ECPAT understands that some criticism was levelled at the 23-month delay between executing the warrant and bringing the prosecution. “But” says Ritchie, “any delays that might have been prejudicial to the offender, pale into insignificance when viewed against the lifetime impact on child victims.”

In the past seven years ECPAT has spoken out in an objective, sanitised and non-emotive manner, on “inadequate” sentences. “But” says barrister Denise Ritchie, “it is time for frankness. Not only have these children been the victims of rape and sexual degradation. Their violations will be the source of many others’ sexual gratification and fantasies as they describe, swap, fantasise and masturbate over the images. These children will be re-abused again and again. So long as the Internet exists, these victims will be the subject of ongoing sexual exploitation throughout their childhood, their adulthood and even after death. One of the common distresses of victims of child pornography is that their images are out there - forever. They will never be retrievable. For a New Zealand judge to hand out a sentence of ‘community work’ is a blatant insult to the child victims. Such an inadequate sentence deserves nothing other than condemnation. And a call for training for the judiciary. In New Zealand, the dedicated DIA Unit and ECPAT NZ are actively assisting a global move to combat child pornography. But New Zealand is being let down by some Judges, who trivialise the sexual violation of children.”


* * * * * * *

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines



Gordon Campbell: On Dune 2, And Images Of Islam


Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture tends to be hostile to Islam when we’re sitting in the dark, with popcorn.
Any number of movie examples come to mind, beginning with Rudolf Valentino’s role (over a century ago) as the romantic Arab hero in The Sheik...
More


 
 


Government: One-stop Shop Major Projects On The Fast Track

The Coalition Government’s new one-stop-shop fast track consenting regime for regional and national projects of significance will cut red tape and make it easier for New Zealand to build the infrastructure and major projects needed to get the country moving again... More

ALSO:


Government: GPS 2024: Over $20 Billion To Get Transport Back On Track
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has released the draft Government Policy Statement (GPS) on Land Transport, outlining the Coalition Government’s plan to build and maintain a transport system that enables people to get to where they need to go quickly and safely... More

ALSO:

Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.