FIJI’s laws are weak in recognising the gravity of child pornography, says Opposition Whip Lynda Tabuya.
While supporting a motion to ratify the Optional Protocol on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography, Ms Tabuya said there were currently no laws in Fiji on child pornography.
Speaking in Parliament, Ms Tabuya said Federal Laws in the United States of America defined child pornography as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a minor under the age of 18 years old.
“Victims are getting younger and it is harder to discern the age of victims in the films, in the photos produced by the porn industry,” she said.
Ms Tabuya spoke of two instances in the US where missing girls under the age of 18 were found in pornographic websites being sexually assaulted, adding while offenders were taken to task, websites walked free after circulating and profiteering from these videos.
“This is not only in the US as it is happening all over the world and Fiji continues to rank high in searches for pornographic websites like PornHub.
“When a video or picture is produced and circulated, it is a permanent record of the child’s sexual abuse and we need to protect our children from this drug (pornography).”
She called on parents to be wary of what their children were accessing in their smart phones as they were being exposed to porn in the most subtle ways. “Our children are in grave danger and they are under threat.
“Pornography is the new drug, we need to fight it together. “
