End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography & Trafficking in Children

Media Release Monday 19th July 2005

Significant Progress in Prosecution of Distributors
of Child Sex Abuse Images

The conviction of Gary Ramon Shaw today in the Wellington District Court for distributing images of children being sexually abused sounds a clear warning. The strong message is that the law is keeping up with technology and will prosecute those trying to hide behind technicalities.
Previously people engaged in the distribution of such images may have felt safe using computer applications such as “peer-to-peer” to avoid detection. The sentence handed down today of nine months imprisonment for distribution and $2000 fine for possession has demonstrated that this is not the case.

Alan Bell, Director of ECPAT NZ states “ The work of the Department of Internal Affairs to bring this case to court and the decision reached in court are to be commended. The images in question are not to be mistaken for computer images – they are images of real children being sexually abused. And they are images that remain available and continue to haunt the victims for years to come. If offenders thought they were safe misusing the internet for this purpose, they need to think again.”

ECPAT NZ is part of a global network protecting children against commercial sexual exploitation.

ENDS

© Scoop Media