Child pornography and prostitution: is this crime or work that should be regulated?
| Date | 09 January 2007 |
| Pages | 5-11 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/13590790710721756 |
| Published date | 09 January 2007 |
| Author | Kadriye Bakirci |
| Subject Matter | Accounting & finance |
Child pornography and
prostitution: is this crime or work
that should be regulated?
Kadriye Bakirci
Law Division, Management Faculty, Istanbul Technical University,
Istanbul, Turkey
Abstract
Purpose – The International Labour Organisation (ILO) adopted a new Convention concerning the
Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour (No. 182) in
1999. The aim of this paper is to analyse the United Nations (UN), ILO, Council of Europe (COE)
instruments related to child exploitation and discuss whether child pornography and prostitution are
economic crime or work that should be regulated.
Design/methodology/approach – This paper compares the definitions of child pornography and
prostitution and child labour in the UN, ILO, COE instruments.
Findings – Although child labour does not imply child prostitution and pornography, the
Convention No. 182 Article 3 includes child prostitution and pornography in the term “child labour”
and identifies child pornography and prostitution as among the worst forms of child labour. The paper
concludes that, no matter what role the children have in participating in the sexual activities, they
should be viewed as victims and witnesses. They should not be viewed as “sex workers” or “child
labourers”. The view that sexual exploitation of children is a kind of labour might be seen to legitimise
it in some countries and might cause more trauma for children.
Originality/value – This paper argues that the ILO should have either considere d child
pornography and prostitution as a kind of modern slavery in a separate paragraph in the C. 182 or
introduced a separate instrument to combat against child sexual exploitation.
Keywords Pornography,Children (age groups), Laws and legislation,Crimes
Paper type Viewpoint
1. Introduction
It is estimated that over two million children around the world will be exploited by
adults through prostitution, trafficking and pornography, and the majority of them will
be girls. The sexual exploitation of girls is a global, multi-billion dollar industry,
pouring money into the hands of private citizens, governments and the police. The very
adults who are entrusted with the protection of children – be they teachers, clerg y,
police officers, politicians or parents – use their moral authority and status to sexually
exploit children. Many people will argue that tourism is driving this world-wide
epidemic of the sexual enslavement of girls, although in many countries it is local men
who exploit the children in question. The fear of HIV/AIDS is often quoted as a factor
since younger girls would not be infected with this virus. However, it is now being
suggested that there is a direct link between the abusive exploitation of girls and the
prevalent low economic and social status of women. For many poor families, the girl
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at
www.emeraldinsight.com/1359-0790.htm
The Cambridge International Symposium on Economic Crime; (The Twenty third International
Symposium on Economic Crime, Jesus College, 4-11 September 2005)
Child
pornography and
prostitution
5
Journal of Financial Crime
Vol. 14 No. 1, 2007
pp. 5-11
qEmerald Group Publishing Limited
1359-0790
DOI 10.1108/13590790710721756
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