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Advocate Warns Of Penalties For Circulating Child Pornograph
Advocate Warns Of Penalties For Circulating Child Pornography
Published: Monday November 12, 2012 | 5:55 pm0 Comments
Children's Advocate Diahann Gordon Harrison - Contributed
Jerome Reynolds, Gleaner Writer
Jamaicans circulating a photograph purportedly of a young girl engaging in a sexual act with a man are being warned that they could face prison time and huge fines.
The disturbing picture is being circulated on popular social media networking websites as well as on BlackBerry Messenger.
Children’s Advocate Diahann Gordon Harrison and child rights advocate Betty-Ann Blaine have both condemned the action.
According to Gordon Harrison it is reprehensible and irresponsible.
She adds that the sharing of the picture is illegal and carries serious penalties.
Under the Child Pornography (Prevention) Act, the production, possession, importation, exportation and distribution of child pornography and the use of children for child pornography is an offence.
Offenders may receive up to 20 years imprisonment and fined as high the maximum $500,000.
For her part, Blaine said the sharing of the photograph serves to further victimize the young girl and her family and friends.
She says there have been cases were children have committed suicide after their images sexual acts were shared on popular media sharing forums.
The child rights advocate is calling for Jamaicans to be more sensitive and responsible in their actions.
Meanwhile, the Police have advised that they are probing the matter.
They say steps are being taken to ascertain the authenticity of the image as well as its origin.
The Police are asking anyone who may have seen the image and who may be able to identify the child to make contact with Crime Stop, the Centre for the Investigation of Sexual Offences and Child Abuse, Police 119 emergency number or the nearest Police Station.
Published: Monday November 12, 2012 | 5:55 pm0 Comments
Children's Advocate Diahann Gordon Harrison - Contributed
Jerome Reynolds, Gleaner Writer
Jamaicans circulating a photograph purportedly of a young girl engaging in a sexual act with a man are being warned that they could face prison time and huge fines.
The disturbing picture is being circulated on popular social media networking websites as well as on BlackBerry Messenger.
Children’s Advocate Diahann Gordon Harrison and child rights advocate Betty-Ann Blaine have both condemned the action.
According to Gordon Harrison it is reprehensible and irresponsible.
She adds that the sharing of the picture is illegal and carries serious penalties.
Under the Child Pornography (Prevention) Act, the production, possession, importation, exportation and distribution of child pornography and the use of children for child pornography is an offence.
Offenders may receive up to 20 years imprisonment and fined as high the maximum $500,000.
For her part, Blaine said the sharing of the photograph serves to further victimize the young girl and her family and friends.
She says there have been cases were children have committed suicide after their images sexual acts were shared on popular media sharing forums.
The child rights advocate is calling for Jamaicans to be more sensitive and responsible in their actions.
Meanwhile, the Police have advised that they are probing the matter.
They say steps are being taken to ascertain the authenticity of the image as well as its origin.
The Police are asking anyone who may have seen the image and who may be able to identify the child to make contact with Crime Stop, the Centre for the Investigation of Sexual Offences and Child Abuse, Police 119 emergency number or the nearest Police Station.
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