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The phenomen<strong>on</strong> of child pornography<br />
1.6 C<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong><br />
The follow<strong>in</strong>g c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s have been drawn with regard to the phenomen<strong>on</strong> of child pornography.<br />
These c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s have formed the guid<strong>in</strong>g pr<strong>in</strong>ciple for the <strong>in</strong>vestigati<strong>on</strong> of policy and practice and the<br />
results of this <strong>in</strong>vestigati<strong>on</strong> will be presented <strong>in</strong> the follow<strong>in</strong>g chapters.<br />
Variati<strong>on</strong> <strong>in</strong> the area of child pornography<br />
The phenomen<strong>on</strong> of child pornography encompasses perpetrators, victims and technology (c<strong>on</strong>sist<strong>in</strong>g<br />
of abusive material <strong>in</strong>volv<strong>in</strong>g children <strong>on</strong> the <strong>on</strong>e hand and technology, primarily ICT, which makes it<br />
possible to produce, distribute and possess such material, <strong>on</strong> the other hand). Each of these elements<br />
varies c<strong>on</strong>siderably, and the nature of perpetrators, victims or material is not clear-cut. The commercial<br />
child pornography circuit differs from the amateur circuit as far as perpetrators, victims and material are<br />
c<strong>on</strong>cerned, and the behaviours may vary as well. The issue surround<strong>in</strong>g adolescent or post-adolescent victims<br />
is different to that <strong>in</strong>volv<strong>in</strong>g pre-adolescent victims, and the perpetrators, as well, do not form a homogenous<br />
group. Some <strong>in</strong>dividuals <strong>on</strong>ly view child abuse images, whilst other users of such material also<br />
physically abuse children themselves. This variati<strong>on</strong> has implicati<strong>on</strong>s for the way <strong>in</strong> which it is tackled.<br />
If policy and implementati<strong>on</strong> are to be successful, they must reflect the diversity that exists <strong>in</strong> that area.<br />
Sexual abuse <strong>in</strong> the digital and analogue worlds<br />
At present, child abuse material actually takes the form of digital material. Technological developments<br />
rapidly succeed <strong>on</strong>e another and will almost always <strong>in</strong>fluence the phenomen<strong>on</strong> of child pornography.<br />
What is more, <strong>on</strong>l<strong>in</strong>e aspects <strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>gly feature <strong>in</strong> other forms of sexual violence aga<strong>in</strong>st children.<br />
Perpetrators and potential perpetrators, as well as victims, use ICT <strong>in</strong>tensively. Whilst perpetrators frequently<br />
use ICT <strong>in</strong> the producti<strong>on</strong>, distributi<strong>on</strong> and possessi<strong>on</strong> of child abuse material, underage victims<br />
can also be found <strong>in</strong> cyberspace. The offl<strong>in</strong>e and <strong>on</strong>l<strong>in</strong>e worlds often c<strong>on</strong>verge <strong>in</strong>to <strong>on</strong>e as far as they<br />
are c<strong>on</strong>cerned, and this means that both worlds must be taken <strong>in</strong>to account <strong>in</strong> legislati<strong>on</strong>, policy and<br />
implementati<strong>on</strong>. Technological, empirical and legal expertise and associated means must be sufficient<br />
to keep pace with the recent developments <strong>in</strong> the digital doma<strong>in</strong>. ICT sometimes presents a challenge,<br />
yet it can also provide a means of prevent<strong>in</strong>g and tackl<strong>in</strong>g child pornography.<br />
Time and space<br />
The issue of child pornography exists at various levels. It is not bound by time or space. Individuals have<br />
produced and viewed child abuse images s<strong>in</strong>ce visual technology (photography) came <strong>in</strong>to existence, and<br />
with the techniques that exist today, it is likely that child abuse material – even very old material – will<br />
still be available for a very l<strong>on</strong>g time to come. Space is hardly a factor at all: <strong>in</strong> the past, <strong>in</strong>dividuals who<br />
sexually abuse children and other perpetrators have always been able to f<strong>in</strong>d their victims. However,<br />
ICT has added a new dimensi<strong>on</strong> to the phenomen<strong>on</strong>, namely cyberspace, which enables perpetrators,<br />
victims and material to come directly <strong>in</strong>to c<strong>on</strong>tact with <strong>on</strong>e another anywhere and at any time. It is<br />
important that c<strong>on</strong>t<strong>in</strong>uity is achieved <strong>in</strong> tackl<strong>in</strong>g child pornography and <strong>in</strong> this regard it is highly likely<br />
that a similar issue exists <strong>in</strong> other countries <strong>in</strong> relati<strong>on</strong> to the strategy to tackle it. As far as efforts to prevent<br />
and tackle child pornography <strong>in</strong> the Netherlands are c<strong>on</strong>cerned, it will sometimes be desirable to<br />
seek <strong>in</strong>ternati<strong>on</strong>al cooperati<strong>on</strong>, but this also means that we can exam<strong>in</strong>e whether experiences <strong>in</strong> other<br />
countries can be of benefit to the strategy to tackle the issue <strong>in</strong> the Netherlands.<br />
Extent of the phenomen<strong>on</strong> of child pornography<br />
The extent of the phenomen<strong>on</strong> of child pornography – perpetrators, victims and material – is unknown.<br />
As far as the number of perpetrators and the quantity of child abuse material are c<strong>on</strong>cerned, it may be<br />
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