Press Releases
MEPs combat child pornography on the Internet
MEPs are calling for the criminalisation of all types of sexual abuse of children including "grooming" and paedophile chat rooms on the internet.
MEPs voted on a report calling for the criminalisation of internet providers of paedophile chat rooms and forums and to require national authorities to block access to or delete the domain names of the websites concerned. The report also calls for credit card companies to cooperate to block the internet-based payment systems for websites involved in child pornography.
North East Labour MEP, Stephen Hughes, said: "We need an increased level of protection of children throughout Europe in view of the development of new technology, in particular the internet."
The report also calls for EU citizens who commit a sex crime outside the EU to be subject to standard extraterritorial legislation. Applicants for certain posts working with children should also undergo a criminal records check and those whose work involves regular contact with children should have an obligation to report situations where abuse is suspected.
Stephen Hughes MEP said: "All Member States need the same definition of the sexual abuse of children to ensure that there are no loopholes for those exploiting children anywhere within the EU."
For more information please call Cyndi Beaver 07764198400
Stephen S Hughes MEP
North East European Constituency Office
Room 4/38
County Hall
Durham
DH1 5UR
Tel: 0191 3849371
Fax: 0191 3846100