Awareness needed to address online child abuse, say experts

With the victims themselves generating a large amount of online child sexual abuse and exploitation material, awareness needs to be a major tool while addressing the issue of child sexual abuse, said experts at a panel discussion on ‘Addressing online Child Sexual Abuse and exploitation Material (CSAM) over the years: What journalists need to know’ organised by Asian College of Journalism in collaboration with the UNICEF on Saturday.

The panelists said that the State police has strengthened the laws on accessing online child sexual abuse and exploitation material. However, there should be awareness of the law governing online child sexual abuse before they are implemented.

“We cross-check the IP addresses and social media networks on complaints of sharing child sexual abuse and pornographic content. In several cases, offenders approach women or children online and demand for sexual content. There are newer trends and challenges when it comes to addressing online child sexual abuse and exploitation material, with social media becoming a major tool for it,” said H Jayalakshmi, Deputy Commissioner, Crimes against Women and Children wing.

Vidya Reddy of Tulir Centre for the Prevention and Healing of Child Sexual Abuse, who moderated the panel discussion, stressed on the need to focus on preventing and addressing child sexual abuse issues. Priyanka Thirumurthy, journalist, and Siddharth Pillai, Director, Aarambh India Initiative, an NGO that focuses on issues related to child abuse and exploitation, also participated in the panel discussion.