Press Release

Evidence points towards serious social problem

Recently the US State Department released the 2012 Trafficking in Persons Report (TIPs) in which New Zealand was identified as experiencing sexual exploitation of children.

Over the last couple of weeks the following cases have been reported

• Christopher Grant sentenced in Rotorua for three years for making and distributing child pornography

• Police discover girls as young as 13 selling themselves in South Auckland for as little as $20

• In Hamilton a man with name suppression is in custody following charges of possessing and distributing child pornography and carrying out indecent acts on boys

• A 16 year old girl prostitute was raped at knifepoint in Manurewa

• Police identify a 17 year old girl prostituting and being pimped by her uncle

• Davis Wales, already serving a three year sentence for organising overseas child sex tours receives a further sentence for possessing pornographic images of young boys

• Cameron Dunn of Papamoa charged with possessing and distributing child pornography

Alan Bell, Director of ECPAT Child ALERT says this confirms the concerns raised in the TIPs Report. “These cases represent the tip of the iceberg regarding the abuse of children in New Zealand. They are an indicator of a deeper social issue that must be dealt with. These are just a sample of cases over a very short period of time but should ring alarm bells about how children are being abused and sold as commodities to meet a growing demand.”

Bell asks the question “ Why is there such a demand from men for sex with underage girls and boys? And why does the proliferation of child pornography mean more and more child victims are being raped and abused to supply this market. In a country like New Zealand how is it that we have children prostituting themselves on the streets? There is something seriously wrong within society when we see the most vulnerable being abused so frequently. If we accept that the wellbeing of children can be used as an indicator of the social health of our society one would have to conclude we have a serious social problem on our hands.”

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