Figure VI. Criminalization of the computer-related production, distribution or possession of
simulated child pornography
Person who looks like a minor
34%
Virtual child pornography
29%
Source: UNODC legislation review (n=70).
The United States grappled with the issue of virtual and
simulated child sexual abuse material in 2002 when the
Supreme Court in John D. Ashcroft Attorney General, et al v.
The Free Speech Coalition, et al.279 repealed the prohibition on
virtual child sexual abuse material contained in the Child
Pornography Prevention Act of 1996. On that occasion, the
Supreme Court struck down as unconstitutional a definition
of child sexual abuse material that included images that
merely “appear to be” of a minor engaged in sexually explicit
conduct. Almost immediately thereafter and in response to
this decision, the United States Congress adopted the
“Prosecutorial Remedies and Other Tools to End the
Exploitation of Children Today Act of 2003” (PROTECT
Act). In addition to prohibiting “real” child sexual exploitation images, the PROTECT Act also includes prohibitions
against: (a) any digital or computer-generated image that is
“indistinguishable” from that of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct; and (b) a visual depiction that has been
created or modified to appear as an identifiable minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
Commercial sexual exploitation of children
UNICEF has reported gaps concerning child prostitution in
the criminal laws of many States Parties to the OPSC. These
gaps include laws that only criminalize the prostitution of
children below the age of consent to sexual activity in the
national legal system or that define prostitution in
279
U.S. Supreme Court, Case No. 00-795.
gender-specific terms, or exclude certain sexual acts. For
example, national legislation on trafficking often focuses on
sexual exploitation of women and girls, which neglects trafficking of boys for sexual exploitation. The laws of some
countries focus on the immorality of sexual activities rather
than the exploitation and abuse that have occurred. As a
result, trafficking survivors may be held legally accountable
for acts committed as a result of sexual exploitation.280
With regard to the existence of specific anti-trafficking legislation, according to the 2012 UNODC Global Report on
Trafficking in Persons, more than 90 per cent of the 162 countries and territories covered by the report had such legislation
covering fully or partially, all or most forms of trafficking in
persons. This means that at least 134 countries and territories
in the world have criminalized trafficking and established a
strong legislative basis for cooperation, exchange of good practices and a common understanding of what trafficking in persons is and that victims of this crime are to be protected. An
additional 19 countries have legislation covering trafficking in
persons partially, either by focusing on women or children
only, or by covering one type of exploitation only, such as sexual exploitation.281 Some States make trafficking in children an
aggravating factor, or specify an enhanced penalty for such
acts.282 Although legislation rates have increased substantially
280
UNICEF, 2009. Handbook on the Optional Protocol on the Sale
of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography. Pp. 23-24.
281
UNODC, 2012. Global Report on Trafficking in Persons. Pp. 82-83.
282
UNODC. Model Law against Trafficking in Persons (United
Nations publication, Sales No. E.09.V.11).
III.
Combating the problem 43