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<strong>Child</strong> PornograPhy First report oF the Dutch NatioNal rapporteur
ponent of this is providing assistance to victims of child pornography. This assistance is related to the
various forms within which the phenomenon of child pornography arises. It is important to distinguish
between the production of child abuse material on the one hand and the distribution, possession and
viewing of such material on the other hand. 689 <strong>Child</strong>ren can be victims of sexual abuse, whereby an aspect
of child pornography is involved due to the fact that visual material of this abuse is also produced.
In addition to this, children may become victims as a result of the distribution, possession and viewing of
material constituting child pornography. The individual becomes a victim when he/she experiences the
consequences of being forced to act as an object in the material that constitutes child pornography. 690
An important part of providing assistance to victims of the production of material constituting child
pornography involves the overall provision of assistance to victims of abuse. Within the scope of this
report, it is only possible to provide an overview of this. This is the reason why the focus is placed on the
provision of assistance for the elements specifically associated with being a victim of child pornography.
An important point that requires attention when providing assistance is to take account of the consequences
of the persistent existence of images and the distribution, possession and viewing of images.
Another central point is offering assistance to children in the age group from twelve to eighteen years
who are victims of various types of digital sexual violence by means of the Internet, particularly in so far
as this involves material constituting child pornography. Furthermore, it is also important to pay attention
to the aspect of being a victim with respect to the parents of children involved. 691 The abuse of their
child, who at a young age is certainly entirely dependent on them, can be particularly traumatising for
them. If images of the abuse are made, they may in time come to realise the permanency of the situation
that involves their child being a victim. 692
In the case of very young victims, child abuse images can sometimes be the only evidence that abuse has
taken place. This material, as well as other digital indications of sexual abuse such as chat conversations
and links to websites, are not only important when it comes to detection, but also for the provision of
assistance, in order to be able to interpret signs of sexual abuse more effectively. 693
One example of a case which prominently involves both sexual abuse as the production of child abuse
material, and the possession and subsequent distribution of those images, is the Amsterdam sexual
abuse case. In this case, the provision of assistance was involved from the very beginning and therefore
played a very important role. On the basis of this case, the extent in which the aspect relating to child
pornography received attention in the provision of assistance to parents and children will be discussed.
At the end of this chapter, some conclusions will be drawn.
3.7.2 Provision of assistance to victims of sexual abuse
As the production of material constituting child pornography almost always involves sexual abuse, the
provision of assistance is aimed at the consequences of this abuse in particular. Sexual abuse is a type
689 See also §1.3 and §1.4.2.
690 See also §1.4.3.
691 With the exception of parents who are also offenders.
692 Von Weiler et al., 2010.
693 See also §3.3.