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<strong>Child</strong> PornograPhy First report oF the Dutch NatioNal rapporteur
Projects in the field of media literacy involve two areas of focus: 1) the raising of young people’s awareness
of sexualised images, and making them more able to take defensive action against such material, and 2) the
protection of sexual integrity: the prevention of ‘cybersex’, online dating, and online grooming. 61 Three of
these seven projects address the awareness of sexualised images. 62 The report asks the question of whether
more intervention programmes should focus upon the use of new media and the risks that they pose to
young people. 63 It is obvious that the answer to this question is yes. In view of the fact that the Internet
forms a significant part of the environment in which children and young people live, it seems logical that
prevention projects in relation to sexual violence should also expressly concern themselves with the dangers
associated with online behaviour, including child pornography. 64 The police and the Kindertelefoon [<strong>Child</strong>ren’s
Telephone] service have taken the first steps to create a recognisable online profile and to provide
information concerning Internet safety, amongst other initiatives (§3.8.3.1). Other organisations that play
a role in protecting children from sexual violence could also enter into collaborative partnerships with
privately-owned entities in order to be able to educate children.
3.2.4 Situational prevention
The aim of situational prevention is to eliminate or reduce undesirable behaviour within certain situations
by identifying and changing elements that encourage or allow misconduct. 65 One of the most
important reasons for abusing children, as far as perpetrators are concerned, is that they have the opportunity
to do so. 66 The purpose behind situational prevention is to remove or reduce this opportunity.
In general, sexual abuse of children takes place within three types of environments: in the public space,
within an institutional context (children’s day nursery, youth care and foster care facilities, sport club)
and in the domestic setting. 67 Public spaces where children could potentially be abused include public
toilets, isolated areas, shopping centres, swimming pools, parks, playgrounds, schools and amusement
arcades. 68 As far as child pornography is concerned, however, the Internet is the most important public
space where this offence can be committed. The Internet is primarily the domain of the private sector; for
this reason, a public-private sector partnership is essential, in order to prevent sexual abuse of children
via the Internet. Language filters form one example of methods of situational prevention specifically
aimed at the Internet. These and other forms of online prevention, often within a context of publicprivate
partnership, will be explored further in §3.8.
In view of the fact that the circumstances within the institutional context are the most suitable for
situational prevention measures, 69 we will examine this form of situational prevention in greater
detail.
61 Meulmeester et al., 2008, p.15.
62 Meulmeester et al., 2008, p.96.
63 Meulmeester et al., 2008, p.97.
64 See §2.8 for the ‘Digivaardig en Digibewust’ [Digital skills and Digital awareness] campaign.
65 Smallbone et al., 2008, p.155.
66 Smallbone et al., 2008, p.160. See also 1.4.2 regarding the distinction between preferential and situational
offenders.
67 Smallbone et al., 2008, p.161.
68 Smallbone et al., 2008, p.163.
69 Smallbone et al., 2008, p.202.