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<strong>Child</strong> PornograPhy First report oF the Dutch NatioNal rapporteur
information and the negative attitude of the public towards paedophilia could make the existing
barriers for paedophiles to seek help even greater. 96 In order to overcome these obstacles and actually
achieve a preventative effect, it is important that myths in relation to perpetrators of sexual
abuse are dispelled, and that the public are educated as to the nature of victims and perpetrators. 97
3.2.6 Conclusion
Evidence-based prevention policy
The two greatest challenges we face in the prevention of child pornography and the closely associated
wider phenomenon of sexual abuse of children involve the translation of knowledge and expertise into
evidence-based prevention policy on the one hand, and prevention at each of the three prevention levels
on the other hand. It should therefore be recommended that an all-encompassing evidence-based prevention
strategy must be developed, which will combine primary, secondary and tertiary prevention measures.
Prevention measures concerning perpetrators
Prevention measures in the perpetrators target group currently focus upon those who already have convictions,
and far less upon prevention with respect to individuals who are at higher risk of committing
a sexual offence against children for the first time, but have not yet done so. A very promising measure
that (also) targets individuals who have not yet committed offences entailing production, distribution
or possession of child abuse material, or sexual abuse of children, will be the introduction of the Britishinitiated
helpline Stop it Now! in the Netherlands in 2012.
Prevention measures concerning victims
In the context of the prevention of sexual abuse of children, a great deal of emphasis is placed upon the
(potential) victims. This is not entirely without contention, however. The social sciences community
has expressed criticism of the fact that the responsibility for prevention of sexual abuse is placed with
children, 98 whilst adults are the ones who should bear responsibility for children’s safety. 99 In addition,
little is known of the actual preventative effect of prevention programmes targeted at children, and many
programmes pay no attention to new media and the risks that these pose to young people. All prevention
projects concerned with sexual abuse must therefore expressly address the dangers associated with
online behaviour, including those in relation to child pornography.
Situational prevention
As far as many perpetrators are concerned, an important reason for abusing children is that they have
the opportunity to do so. 100 The purpose of situational prevention is to remove this opportunity or to
reduce the number of opportunities. The Gunning Committee has proposed a number of measures
with regard to situational prevention, which include measures to implement the four eyes principle
96 Center for Sex Offender Management, 2007b, p.21. For further information regarding perpetrators and
victims, see §1.4.2 and §1.4.3.
97 Center for Sex Offender Management, 2007b, pp.21-22.
98 Smallbone et al., 2008, pp.140-142.
99 Smallbone et al., 2008, p.137.
100 Smallbone et al., 2008, p.160. See also §1.4.3 on the distinction between preferential and situational
offenders.