Combating the sexual exploitation of minors in the EU (case study Malta)

Abstract

'Sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children are particularly serious forms of crime as they are directed against children, who have the right to special protection and care. They produce long-term physical, psychological and social harm to victims and its persistence undermines the core values of a modern society relating to the special protection of children and trust in relevant State institutions. Despite a lack of accurate and reliable statistics, studies suggest that a significant minority of children in Europe may be sexually assaulted during their childhood, and research also suggests that this phenomenon is not decreasing over time, rather that certain forms of sexual violence are on the rise.' Only recently, and not in all countries, has sexual exploitation of minors become a recognized social problem. Legal definitions to protect these vulnerable beings have started to be created just a few decades ago. This is both a historical and cultural development, as for the first time in history, child sexual exploitation has come to occupy the foreground of public consciousness. Sexual Exploitation of Children is not a consequence of modem life, some claiming that the 'history of humanity is founded upon the abuse of children'. Violence against children varies according to its nature and severity, and the different forms of child abuse are more likely than not to be interrelated. Furthermore, the presence of such abuse is found within every socio-economic level, across all ethnic and cultural lines, within different religions and at all levels of education. Even though the problem is widely recognized nowadays, statistics hint that there is an insufficient response by law enforcement agencies. 'Studies suggest that between 10% and 20% of children in Europe will suffer one or other form of sexual abuse during their childhood'. According to experts, statistics in this respect are controversial and never reflect reality, mainly because few cases are reported, prosecution is not straight forward, and perpetrators may continue their offences after serving their sentence . The use of the internet, child sex tourism, and trafficking of human beings further extenuate the phenomenon of child sexual exploitation. In fact, an EU-wide study indicates that, 40 per cent of teenagers had been exposed to pornography online, and 10 per cent had met someone in the real world they had 'met' in a chat room or a social media site'. Child sex tourism is believed to have taken ground on a massive scale, and with tighter controls in Europe more and more people seek to indulge in such crimes far from home, especially in developing countries where the legal structures are very week. According to the United Nations, trafficking of human beings is believed to be the 'third largest source of money produced by organized crime' with children being the most vulnerable and at highest risk. The principle reason for trafficking children is for sexual purposes. In addition to these extreme forms of violence, children are being stripped of their childhood in their homes, at school and in their communities.