Digitalisation is changing the world – Part one

What is child sexual exploitation ?

Child sexual exploitation (CSE) is a type of sexual abuse. A child is a victim of sexual exploitation when she/he takes part in a sexual activity in exchange for something (gain, benefit, or even the promise of such) from a third party, the perpetrator. Children or young people may be coerced into a situation of sexual exploitation through physical force or threats. The perpetrator may take advantage of additional factors that make a child vulnerable, such as poverty or neglect. (See Directive 2011/93/EU on combating the sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children and child pornography, Article 4).

What is online CSE ?

Online child sexual exploitation is any form of child sexual exploitation, which are linked to the online environment. Online exploitation may be part of an exploitation that is taking place offline and is facilitated by information and communication technologies. For example, unwanted sexual comments made to a child through social media is a form of online child sexual molestation and/or harassment. When sexual exploitation takes place online, the child may be persuaded/threatened/forced to take part in sexual activities via a smartphone or in front of a webcam, to participate in sexual conversations or to send sexual pictures of themselves.

Other forms of online child sexual exploitation are the distribution, dissemination, importing, exporting, offering, selling, possession of, or knowingly obtaining access to child sexual exploitation material online.

What is child sexual exploitation material ?

Don’t call it “child pornography” but “child sexual exploitation material”. Pornography is a term used for adults engaging in consensual sexual acts distributed (mostly) legally to the general public for their sexual pleasure. Child abuse images involve children who cannot and would not consent and who are victims of a crime.

While child sexual abuse material (CSAM) depicts acts of sexual abuse and/or focusing on the genitalia of the child, child sexual exploitation material (CSEM) is used in a broader sense to encompass all other sexualised material depicting children. It includes visual material such as photographs, movies, drawings, and cartoons ; audio representations ; live performances ; written material in print or online ; and physical objects such as sculptures, toys, or ornaments. It includes also not only children but also adults “appearing to be” children. Child sexual abuse/exploitation material is also “pornographic material consisting exclusively of simulated representations or realistic images of a non-existent child”. This is known as computer or digitally generated child sexual abuse material. Furthermore self-generated sexual material (e.g. sexting) and sexualised images of children could be CSAM/CSEM under certain circumstances.

For more information please check the “Terminology Guidelines for the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse” edited by ECPAT International and ECPAT Luxembourg under http://luxembourgguidelines.org/english-version/

What is ECPAT ?

Don’t look away but help us to prevent sexual exploitation of children.

Communiqué par ECPAT Luxembourg