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UNFPA: Albanian Government Must Take “Urgent” Action to Protect Girls and Boys from Sexual Abuse and Violence
From: Alice Taylor, Arjola Tafaj
In Albania, in recent years several studies have been conducted that address issues of child abuse, especially issues of child sexual abuse.
Findings show that child and adolescent maltreatment continue to be a concerning public health problem all over the world, with not only health but social and financial consequences as well. The same is true for Albania.
Most maltreatment affects child wellbeing and results in long-term consequences for a child’s neurological, cognitive, emotional development, and overall health.
Although protection of child rights has been among the priority actions of the government of Albania for years, the de-facto implementation remains a challenge, especially when it comes to protecting girls and boys from violence and abuse.
Sadly, during 2020 we have witnessed media reports of many cases of violence against children in kindergartens, schools, and in families, especially sexual violence against girls, both by their peers and adults. This includes cases of sexual abuse of female minors in family relationships.
Provision of specialist support services for abused girls and boys, especially in the case of sexual violence is even more difficult. Existing services are not inclusive and do not have the sufficient capacity to cover the entire territory of the country. They lack the needed number of professionals and they do not always operate to the required standards.
A recent report supported by United Nations Population Fund Office in Albania (UNFPA) on “Adolescent and Youth Abuse in Albania” provided necessary information about the characteristics of adolescent and youth abuse with the main focus on potential gender gaps, socioeconomic differences, and other differences pertinent to vulnerable population categories.
The in-depth analysis of several studies on violence against minors sheds light once again on issues that can lead to abuse. It also presents a detailed evaluation of the legal framework and emphasizes the importance of taking appropriate measures in the fight against violence against adolescents and youth.
Figures from the report show that almost one in three Albanian children reported they had been assaulted physically by their parents or adults at home. 16% of boys and 18% of girls said they had been emotionally abused. Even more concerningly, 8% said they had been sexually abused and a further 3% said they had been raped or had been subjected to attempted rape.
One issue that became apparent from looking at the data was the difference in the way girls and boys are treated. Girls are more likely to be emotionally neglected (19%) and physically abused, with a difference of some 10 percentage points between sexes. Conversely, boys were much more likely to be sexually abused than their female peers.
Out of all the children surveyed, it was noted that Roma and minority children were at significant risk of sex trafficking. The issue of forced and child marriages was also noted, particularly in cases where justification was the girl’s “honor”.
The consumption of alcohol was a strong factor in the cases of actual violence and witnessing domestic violence. Furthermore, those that reported the abuse were also more likely to witness domestic violence at home, and vice versa.
Children living in a home with a low level of parental education, a father out of work, and a low income were more likely to be abused and witness violence.
Concerningly, grooming and sexual extortion are not illegal in Albania and there is no legal definition of “child sexual abuse materials” i.e. child pornography. This remains the case despite ongoing lobbying by a number of civil society organizations. There are some national plans for online child safety and child trafficking but the report notes they are not adequate or properly funded.
In terms of recommendations, the UNDP made 24 recommendations. These include the recommendation that the entire legal and policy framework must be reviewed to include the language “girls” and “boys” rather than sex-blind terms. This is due to the importance of assessing differences in risks based on sex. This should be taken into account with all laws, even the Constitution, they said.
The government must also amend article 100 of the Criminal Code to provide equality for girls and boys, to explicitly criminalize procuring sexual services from children, to protect exploited children from criminal charges for prostitution, to criminalize pornography, and to criminalize various offenses related to sex trafficking and online sexually predatory behavior.
Furthermore, the government should urgently provide accessible specialist support to abused girls and boys. These services should cover the whole country and should always operate.
UK paedophile painter and decorator threatened to
smash boy's knee caps if he told anyone
By Guy Bell, Yorkshire Live
18:06, 1 MAR 2021
Jeff Rodgers’s victim was just 12 or 13 years old when the vile abuse began (stock image, posed by model)
A paedophile painter and decorator threatened to smash the knee caps of his teenage victim who he massaged with baby oil, plied with viagra and sexually abused as he slept if he spoke a word to anyone.
Jeff Rodgers would often host booze-filled parties with young teenage boys at his South Yorkshire home when his wife was away and dubbed the evenings “boys’ night”.
The 58-year-old made his victim watch porn and perform sex acts and told the boy he would “take off his knee caps” if he told anyone.
His mortified victim said Rodgers, from Rotherham, made it seem as though it was normal behaviour but the vile abuse escalated.
Rodgers’s offending first began in 2003 when his victim was just 12 or 13 years old and ended in 2006 when Rodgers was himself 44 years old.
Last month he pleaded guilty to two counts of indecency with a child, two counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, one count of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child and one count of sexual activity with a child.
Survivors, NGOs call for criminal investigation
into porn giant MindGeek
by Christopher Reynolds, The Canadian Press
on March 4, 2021
OTTAWA -- More than 100 survivors of sexual exploitation along with hundreds of non-governmental organizations are urging Ottawa to pursue a "full criminal investigation" into Pornhub's parent company.
In a letter to the House of Commons ethics committee this week, the coalition asked the federal government to push for a police probe into MindGeek, which they accuse of violating child protection laws and sharing intimate images without consent.
The Montreal-based company has come under heavy criticism in the past few months following accusations it distributed exploitive videos and failed to adequately screen for illegal material.
MindGeek executives have denied any wrongdoing and said their company is a "world leader" in preventing the distribution of content showing child sexual abuse and non-consensual acts.
"MindGeek has zero-tolerance for non-consensual content, child sexual abuse material (CSAM), and any other content that lacks the consent of all parties depicted," the company said in an email.
"The harrowing stories of the survivors of CSAM and non-consensual imagery shake us to our core."
In December, several major credit card companies suspended payment services to Pornhub, prompting the world's largest pornography platform to scrub some 10 million videos posted by unverified users.
At least five lawsuits have been filed against the company in the U.S. and Canada over the past year on behalf of survivors of child abuse, sex trafficking and non-consensual image uploads.
"I too feel like Pornhub has become my human trafficker, and they have been relentless in doing so," said survivor Victoria Galy, testifying before the ethics committee last month about videos posted without her consent and depicting what she says was sexual assault.
"Thanks to Pornhub, today is day 1,292 that I have been naked on these porn sites," another witness testified on Feb. 19.
The group behind the letter, whose signatories include 104 survivors and 525 NGOs in countries ranging from Austria to Zambia, applauded the committee for studying the issue.
The coalition called on the government to encourage an investigation by the RCMP and to take "immediate legislative and regulatory action to protect children from this predatory and unethical corporation."
The letter points to MindGeek's role in enabling and profiting from "a range of criminal content" distributed across some of its 160-odd platforms.
MindGeek CEO Feras Antoon and chief operating officer David Tassillo testified last month that all content on the website is screened using multiple software tools before being approved by human moderators.
"We always instruct all our agents to err on the caution side. If you have any doubt at all, just don't let it up," Tassillo told the committee on Feb. 5.
However, the coalition says that testimony implies the company "knowingly and wilfully distributed child sexual abuse materials."
The Canadian Centre for Child Protection, the U.S. National Center for Missing and Exploited Children -- both signatories to the letter -- and the RCMP have all said they only began receiving reports of child sexual abuse images from Pornhub in late 2020.
"It also appears that MindGeek has violated Canada's laws on publication of intimate images without consent," the letter states.
"By its failure to implement age verification during pornography content upload and pornography consumption, MindGeek has facilitated harms against large numbers of children, both in front of the screen -- through exposing children to pornography -- and behind the screen -- through facilitating images and films of child sexual abuse."
This easy availability of pornography by adolescent males creates a disturbing image of sexuality in brains that are reforming and trying to make sense of the world. One need look no further for the cause of the rape culture in high schools and universities.
Is there an inherent right to view pornography? It was illegal no so long ago; why did itbecome legal. Do the rights of voyeurs supersede the right to raise a child without access to pornography?
The company said in a statement it goes "above and beyond" the demands of Canadian law.
"Those who post CSAM and nonconsensual imagery are criminals -- we will not stop working to improve our security until we have prevented every one of these criminals from abusing our platforms," MindGeek said.
The company said it works with more than 40 non-profit organizations to moderate and report content on its platforms.
MindGeek voluntarily registered to report child pornography to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in March 2020, said John Clark, the center's executive director. Pornhub submitted more than 13,000 reports to the U.S. organization, though 9,000 of them were "duplicative," Clark said last month.
The House ethics committee continues to weigh concerns around privacy and streaming platforms such as Pornhub. It is expected to file a report with recommendations later this year.
Welsh child rapist who abused youngsters for more than two decades
is locked up
walesonline
A paedophile who "took advantage" of children of a variety of ages and raped and abused them over a period of more than two decades has been jailed.
He was sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court on Thursday having pleaded guilty to four counts of rape, seven counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, four counts of indecent assault, one count of engaging in sexual activity in front of a child, three counts of sexual assault on a child, and two counts of possessing indecent images of children.
The defendant, of Llandegfedd Way, New Inn, Pontypool, was also placed on the sex offenders' register and was made subject to a sexual harm prevention order.
Speaking after the hearing DC Rhys Lawrence of Gwent Police said: "Matthew Pearce took advantage of children, both young and old, for his own gratification. He preyed upon his young victims’ vulnerability subjecting them to horrific sexual abuse that no-one – let alone a child – should experience.
“The bravery of Pearce’s victims cannot be understated in coming forward after being subjected to such trauma. Without their testimonies we would not have been able to bring him to justice and secure this conviction.
“I hope that the significant sentence imposed by the courts on Pearce will help the survivors of his abuse to begin the process of moving on and will bring some closure to this awful chapter in their lives."
UK sex offender sent young girl indecent pictures and videos of himself
over Snapchat during two-year abuse campaign
By Sophie Halle-Richards
Manchester Evening News
Paul Halfpenny, 37, would touch himself inappropriately whilst with the girl, and would send her inappropriate images and videos of himself over Snapchat.
Today (Thursday 4 March) Halfpenny, of no fixed abode, was jailed for two years and 10 months after being convicted of a number of sexual offences.
He was found guilty of two counts of attempting to possess an indecent photograph of a child, two counts of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child aged between 13 and 15.
Halfpenny was also convicted of two counts of causing a child aged between 13 and 15 to watch or look at an image of sexual activity and one count of sending communications conveying indecent or offensive messaging.
He will also have to sign the sex offenders' register for life, and was made subject to a sexual harm prevention order for life.
The court also imposed an indefinite restraining on Halfpenny.
Detective Constable Kayleigh Wiggins, of GMP's Serious Crime Division said: "I would like to start by commending the victim's bravery in coming forward and speaking out about these offences. "It is your bravery which has helped us to ensure Halfpenny faces the consequences for his abhorrent behaviour.
"It's important not to underestimate the seriousness of child sex offences and the lasting impact this type of behaviour can have on victims.
"GMP will always take reports of this nature seriously and would encourage anyone who thinks they may be suffering from this type of abuse to come forward and speak out."
Trafford, UK
UK paedophile pensioner found guilty of historic child sex assaults
..
He is already serving a 16-year sentence for similar crimes
burtonmail
Pensioner Ivan Keeling was accused of attacking the child and further charges of inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, sexually assaulting a child under 16 and inciting a child under 16 to engage in sexual activity.
He is already serving a 16-year sentence for offences for which he was jailed in 2018, reports StokeonTrent Live.
Speaking after the case, Detective Constable Dawn Moody, of Staffordshire Police, praised the bravery of the victim for coming forward. She said: "I want to pay tribute to the victim and the tremendous courage and bravery she showed in bringing this case to the courts.
"We will continue to do whatever is necessary to bring those responsible for these heinous crimes to justice, whilst ensuring the victims and their families are given the support they need."
Anyone who has suffered sexual abuse, or suspects others may be subject to sexual abuse, is urged to contact Staffordshire Police on 101.
Alternatively, the independent crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111 or through the Crimestoppers website.
Chapel-en-le-Frith man jailed for child sex offences
By Louise Cooper, Buxton Advertiser
Thursday, 4th March 2021, 9:13 am
Steven Dawson, of Chapel-en-le-Frith, was sentenced at Derby Crown Court on Thursday February 25 and jailed for six and a half years.
These were: causing a child to engage in sexual activity, two counts of sexual assault of a child, and assault by penetration.
The offences took place in Chapel between December 2019 and December 2020, against a girl who was under the age of 13.
As well as the jail term, Dawson was also handed an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order. This prohibits him from having any contact with any girl under the age of 16, amongst other conditions.
He has also been banned from working with children and will be required to sign the sex offenders register.
Detective Constable Heidi Tollervey who led the investigation, said: “I want to express my thanks and praise the young girl in this case who showed great courage throughout the investigation.
“In doing so not only has she seen Steven Dawson put behind bars for what he did to her, but I hope she will have also given confidence to others who may have been affected by similar crimes to know that they are not alone and can speak out.
“Although nothing can change what happened to her, I hope this sentencing provides some closure for her to move forward with her life.
“To anyone reading this who may have also suffered sexual assault or abuse, whether now or in the past, I urge you -- please speak to someone. There is help available, whether you wish to involve the police or not.
“If you do feel able to contact us, you will be listened to and we will investigate and support you through the process.”
Anyone affected by a similar crime can contact SV2 at www.sv2.org.uk or call their advice line on 01773 746 115 (open 7 days a week 8am – 5pm).
You can contact Sv2 regardless of whether you wish to report an incident to police.
Derbyshire police can be contacted via the online contact form at www.derbyshire.police.uk/Contact-Us or by calling 101.
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