Usually Dec. 23 is a pretty quiet day around the Maine Coalition Against Sexual Assault’s office. However, a breaking story in Rockland resulted in our phones ringing off the hook for comment and perspective on child pornography and victimization in Maine.
Much of the focus on child pornography tends to relate to questions like, “How harmful is child pornography, really?” “Do people who watch, trade or sell child pornography go on to commit hands-on offenses?” “Doesn’t child pornography actually help deter crime because people in child pornography ‘communities’ are just watching from their own home instead of going out and sexually abusing children?”
Research related to child pornography is conflicting. It’s difficult to definitively say whether or not child pornography offenders go on to commit hands-on sexual violence crimes against children. However, we do know that for some offenders, child pornography is a serious risk factor for going on to perpetrate additional sex offenses against minors.
What gets lost in these questions about offenders (which are arguably important questions to ask) are the victims of child pornography themselves. Most of us never fully understand what child pornography really constitutes – it’s too horrible to think about. It can be difficult to remember that for such pornography to be created, there are children and teens who have already experienced significant sexual victimization, resulting in serious, lifelong consequences.
This type of victimization is ongoing, and the harm to victims continues well into adulthood. Once images and videos are available on the Internet, they are continually reproduced, reshared and resold. Fully removing content from the Internet is nearly impossible, and victims know their images are continually used long after they are created. And the more that the demand exists, the more children are abused.
In the face of such a terrible issue, we’re often asked, “What can be done?” Like other types of sexual violence, there isn’t one simple answer.
Continue to hold offenders accountable. As technology enabling the victimization of children through child pornography grows, so does the technology of law enforcement charged with finding it. Child pornography has new platforms, and yet there are people trained to infiltrate those platforms and hold offenders accountable. This type of work requires a lot of resources, and the public can help by reporting tips to either the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children or by contacting the Maine Computer Crimes Unit. They work together to help eradicate this horrible crime.
Recognize that child pornography is a form of sexual violence – and like all sexual violence, it is preventable. In addition to holding offenders accountable, we have to take a hard look at the parts of our culture that enable and normalize child sexual abuse. Sexual assault support centers across Maine are holding classes for parents and professionals who work closely with young children to recognize red-flag behaviors in other adults. In these classes, parents are also given tools to talk to their children about issues such as setting and respecting family boundaries, using proper names of body parts, being clear about the difference between okay and inappropriate touches, and explaining the difference between surprises and secrets. Sexual assault prevention educators across Maine are in schools every day, working with students on personal body safety and other elements of prevention. For more information about these programs, contact MECASA.
Support survivors. Believing a survivor is often a first step to them getting the support they need. A simple, “Thank you for telling me,” and a referral to the statewide sexual assault crisis and support line (1-877-871-7741) can help. Abuse survivors often experience post-traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse issues, anxiety, depression and suicide attempts as a result of being abused. However, survivors can go on to lead happy and productive lives, and that starts with getting the help they need. Supports include Maine’s sexual assault support centers, comprehensive substance abuse programs, and effective mental health services (to name a few), all of which are accessible by calling the sexual assault crisis and support line.
We’ve all heard about computer and phone seizures that so often result in child pornography charges; they’re in the news too often. The more we hold offenders accountable, do our part in preventing sexual violence, and support survivors, the further we will go in ending child sexual abuse.
Cara Courchesne is the communications director for the Maine Coalition Against Sexual Assault.