HORRIFIC cases, including that of a prominent high school teacher, involving online distribution of child pornography, indicates that commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) is rife, with perpetrators lurking in the most trusted positions.
Colin Chapman (48), who taught at Hillcrest High School, Maritzburg College and Durban High School, lured his victims using Whatsapp and BBM, offering them cash in return for nude pictures.
The SAP cyber crime unit is combing through his electronic equipment, attempting to trace the victims of thousands of images.
KZN police commissioner, Lt Gen Mmamonnye Ngobeni, said police would continue to focus on similar cases.
But, Pastor Caroline Pitout of the KZN Human Trafficking, Pornography, Prostitution and Brothels Task Team (HPPB) and Freedom Generation SA, says the police cannot take responsibility to combat the terrors of child abuse images alone.
‘Schools should do far more to raise awareness about the manufacturing of child abuse images, grooming, sexting and cyber bullying on every grade level and in terms which is appropriate to each development level.
‘Recent cases prove no age group is exempt and perpetrators are often parents, guardians or family members,’ said Pitout.
‘Children and young people of all backgrounds can become victims, but those from poor households, homes with a history of family abuse or children
who are lonely and suffer low self-esteem, can be especially vulnerable.
‘Schools must therefore create forums where children can report abuse adults or other children, knowing the matter will be treated with confidentiality and they will be protected during the process.
‘Teachers, parents and church leaders must also actively address young adults about the consequences of ‘sexting’.’
Definition
ECPAT International, a global network of civil society organisations working together for the elimination of child prostitution, pornography and trafficking of children for sexual purposes, says ‘sexting’ is when children create sexualised images of themselves voluntarily and seemingly without coercion.
These images are illegal and the creator can be prosecuted.
Often images are sent to a girlfriend or boyfriend but when the relationship ends, the images find their way to the Internet, where they are can be picked up by paedophiles for trading or selling.
Some children are bullied, coerced or forced to perform sexual acts against the threat of the images being more widely distributed to school friends or family. This is known as sextortion.
Victims of online sexual exploitation can be young people with access to technology, but many are approached by their exploiters offline, while technology is later utilised in the process of exploitation.
Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC) and its dangers:
CSEC occurs when someone, usually an adult or another child, takes sexual advantage of a child and someone benefits from the payment of money, gifts, favours or services.
Often, payment is given to someone who has power over the child.
Children who experience online sexual exploitation can suffer physical, mental and emotional trauma such as depression, nightmares, trust issues, low self-esteem, lack of confidence and suicidal thoughts.
They may isolate themselves because they feel the shame and humiliation will never go away.
The images also hide the abuse they experienced as they are often depicted as willing participants.
The thought of being recognised and fear that the shame will never go away, stays with them, because it is difficult or even impossible to remove images and videos online.
The idea of people still having access to their images and videos over and over again, even after they become adults, may be impossibly heavy to carry.
