Date: 10/12/04
Source: Ministry of Home Affairs
Title: Gigaba: Launch of Child Pornography Hotline number
Remarks by the Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, Malusi Gigaba, on the occasion of the launch of the Child Pornography Hotline Number
10 December 2004
56 years ago today, riding on the back of the victory of humanity against Nazism, the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted and proclaimed the Universal Declaration for Human Rights.
For 6 years, the peoples of the world had acted together – Communists and Capitalists, Africans, Europeans, Asians and Latin Americans, women and men - to extinguish a perilous threat fed by bigotry and dangerous nationalism.
Had the world not acted in this united fashion, today’s world would have been radically different from the one we know today, imperfect as this world still is.
Quite correctly, the General Assembly proclaimed the Universal Declaration for Human Rights as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and nations.
It issued an instruction to all to promote respect for human rights and freedoms and by progressive measures, national and international, to secure their universal and effective recognition and observance, both among the peoples of member states themselves and among the peoples of territories under their jurisdiction.
This historic document was one of the United Nations’ first main achievements and it laid the basic philosophy and principles that underpinned all legally binding international resolutions and conventions.
Article 1 of the Declaration correctly posits that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.
Further, it notes that human beings are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood. Following this historic act the Assembly called upon all Member countries to raise pubic awareness, consciousness and education about the contents of the Declaration and "to cause it to be disseminated, displayed, read and expounded principally in schools and other educational institutions, without distinction based on the political status of countries or territories."
It was thus therefore that 10 December came to be declared an international Human Rights Day.
Out of the Universal Declaration for Human Rights was born a series of other Declarations and Rights, including those of the children, the women, the youth, the elderly, the oppressed, the minorities and others.
Arising from this challenge, we need to pose to ourselves the simple question: have we done enough as a country, NGOs, government, the intelligentsia, teachers and as civil society to raise public awareness including engaging in a public discourse on what the Declaration means to us in practical terms to give a concrete resonance to the letter and spirit of our own Constitution as a country? It is patently clear that it is incumbent upon all of us to raise the level of education and consciousness around the essence and imperatives inherent in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The tragic reality is that there are many among our people who, for reasons of their vulnerability and lack of power and voice, still yearn for the observance of and respect for human rights, both internationally and here in South Africa.
As we celebrate this historic day, they cry out in silence hoping that somebody somewhere listens to their plight and does something to assist them gain a voice ad to be seen.
They ask the penetrating question, if your human rights mean so much to you, how come our own human rights mean so little to you!
Among those that we refer to are the children of the world and of this country who continue to be exploited and abused, silent and powerless victims of violence perpetrated by knowing and adult humans who are supposed to be protecting them.
Through our own experience as a country, we know this for sure that worse than the crime committed by the perpetrator, is the crime of inaction carried out by those who watch, have the power and the capacity to intervene, but rather sit idly watching and doing nothing while a crime is being perpetrated in front of their eyes.
Many of us are guilty of this crime, either because of our own self-induced ignorance or because we are too lethargic or afraid to do anything.
During this, the Sixteen Days of Activism Against Violence Against and Abuse of Women and Children, it became necessary that we should reiterate the messages we have always made before: both that women’s and children’s rights are human rights, and that violence against and the abuse of women and children must be fought on each one of the 365 days that make up a year.
Yet the cold fact is that there are still too many crimes committed against the children in this country, as a result of which we need to intensify our campaigns, and rally all South Africans to become activists for the protection and advancement of the rights of the child.
The Child Protection Unit of the SAPS has reported the shocking information that there is a radical rise in the rates of violence against children in South Africa, manifested amongst other things in the rising cases of child pornography currently under investigation or before the Courts.
Recently, a Court in Cape Town sentenced to six full years, without the option of a fine, a paedophile who had completely abused his position of privilege as a teacher to engage children in obscene sexual activities.
Perhaps, among what we need to do is to campaign for the registration of anyone found guilty of being a paedophile o that they are never employed anywhere they will come in contact with children, as paedophiles cannot be converted.
Further, we need our nation to engage in a united campaign against all pornography, especially on the national media, both print and electronic, especially the TV.
For those of you who have never seen an image of child pornography, be grateful that you have never and please keep it that way, for the image is too gruesome to the mind and never escapes your memory.
Since 1997, there has been a 1500% increase in the number of child pornography images, according to the Internet Watch Foundation.
According to the Italian organisation, Rainbow, there are more than 17 000 websites devoted to child pornography exclusively on the Internet, with the US and Russia accounting for over 75% of all images, and child pornography syndicates raking in billions of dollars in profits through the sale of these images.
More than 99% of child pornography images are accessed and distributed through the Internet, and children themselves are reported to be increasingly involved in the distribution of these images.
Obviously, we need to engage in a sustained campaign, involving schools, religious institutions, NGOs, the media, parents, teachers and children themselves to combat this dangerous crime.
Related to this, we also need to note that today also marks an epilogue for the Sixteen Days Activism Campaign.
Without any fear of contradiction, we need to unite in a people’s contract to fight violence against women and children. All sectors of our society should unite to fight against woman and child abuse. Government on its own cannot defeat this scourge. All South Africans should challenge the social acceptance of domestic violence and sexual and gender-based abuse.
Most violence against women and children is committed in family homes and by people known to the victims. Accordingly, we must break through the silence in and concealment by families and communities of this crime and expose the perpetrators.
Men and boys who do not abuse should be affirmed as ambassadors of no violence against women and children. All forms of abuse - physical, emotional and verbal – are unacceptable
Crime fighting partnerships with government help empower survivors and victims of abuse and sensitise them to their rights. They help broaden access to trauma and counselling facilities for victims of violence.
Government is unwavering in its commitment to fight violence against women and children. The Sexual Offences Bill, soon to be passed, will broaden the definition of sexual violence and help ensure that heavy sentences will be imposed on perpetrators who have been charged and convicted.
More and more police officers are undergoing specialised training so that they deal sensitively with cases of violence against women and children.
There are now over 40 specialised Sexual Offences Courts and they will be expanded throughout the country. Government will also establish at least two Community Courts in each province by March 2005 to speed up cases awaiting trial and improve the conviction rate.
16 Days of Activism is a call to action. Let us extend the 16 days of activism into the festive season. Increased violence over the festive period means we must sustain the campaign and ensure that services and support are accessible during this period to reduce.
On this occasion of the launch of the Child Hotline Number, we are proud to announce that in addition to various child protection initiatives, the Films and Publication Amendment Act has been amended to make the investigation and prosecution of Child Pornography offenders more effective. The Act has taken radical steps to provide a broad definition of child pornography and to impose harsher sentences on the culprits.
According to the Act, it is also an offence to possess, create, produce, distribute, import, access, advertise or promote child pornography images. Each of these acts carries a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment. Failure to report knowledge of child pornography images to the police is also an offence. It is also an offence to expose children to pornography. Even if one commits any of these acts outside South Africa, you may be prosecuted when you return to South Africa.
Every child deserves childhood that includes a period of innocence. We are not protecting our children when we, by our silence and inaction, allow them to be used for the sexual gratification of adults. If you know of someone involved with child pornography images or have reason to suspect someone of such a crime, report it to the police immediately.
We are therefore calling upon all organs of civil society to UNITE IN A PEOPLE’S CONTRACT AGAINST CHILD PORNOGRAPHY. In the event that we you stumble across child pornography images or know of a site that contains or advertises child pornography images, call the Hotline (0800 148 148) with that information.
We have a collective duty to protect our children from harmful materials by monitoring our children’s use of the Internet. Critically, we also have a fiduciary responsibility to educate ourselves as responsible parents and as organs of civil society, about the main risks to our children and talk to them to let them know that we are there to guide them and pass on essential safety advise.
The protection of children is not somebody else’s problem but ours.
To give a concrete resonance to the principles of the Film and Publication Act, Cabinet recently approved the appointment of additional Examiners and Chief Examiners of the Film and Publication Board.
I think we need to take advantage of this opportunity to stand up and observe a moment of silence to pay our respect to Mr ML Lakhani who passed away a few weeks ago after his re-appointment by Cabinet as a Chief Examiner. He has, for the past four years, served the board with distinction, excellence, diligence and immeasurable commitment which all of us should emulate. We will miss his counsel, guidance and insightful inputs as we navigate our way into a creating a caring and compassionate society based on the respect to human rights and dignity.
The role of these examiners would include amongst others, the classification and examination of the films, materials, computers and publications, to determine the appropriateness of the language, elements of nudity, levels of violence and cultural expressions and the extent to which it violates or promote the letter and spirit of the Film and Publications Act as well as Constitution of the country.
The central objective of the classification process is to protect children from exposure to inappropriate material by imposing age restrictions and giving consumers advice about the content of a film, publication or a computer game. Classification will or must be balanced with the Constitutional freedoms and the right of South Africans to be protected from materials which they might find offensive.
We need to take a stance against child pornography. By not taking decisive action against child pornography, we are betraying the trust of our children. History will not absolve us for being irresponsible.
I am pleased to announce today that we shall as a Department of Home Affairs soon announce the re-composed and more representative Ministerial Task Team on Child Pornography and shall, in the first half of 2005, convene a National Conference on Child Pornography in order to draw a comprehensive programme of action.
This is a call to action: to unite in action to fight and combat child pornography! Once more, I implore you to Call the Child Hotline number 0800 148148.
I thank you. Media Enquiries: Nkosana Sibuyi Head of Communication
Cell: 082 886 6708
Madiba Thabethe
Spokesperson: Deputy Minister
Cell: 082 888 8613
Issued by: Ministry of Home Affairs
10 December 2004
Source: Ministry of Home Affairs
Title: Gigaba: Launch of Child Pornography Hotline number
Remarks by the Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, Malusi Gigaba, on the occasion of the launch of the Child Pornography Hotline Number
10 December 2004
56 years ago today, riding on the back of the victory of humanity against Nazism, the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted and proclaimed the Universal Declaration for Human Rights.
For 6 years, the peoples of the world had acted together – Communists and Capitalists, Africans, Europeans, Asians and Latin Americans, women and men - to extinguish a perilous threat fed by bigotry and dangerous nationalism.
Had the world not acted in this united fashion, today’s world would have been radically different from the one we know today, imperfect as this world still is.
Quite correctly, the General Assembly proclaimed the Universal Declaration for Human Rights as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and nations.
It issued an instruction to all to promote respect for human rights and freedoms and by progressive measures, national and international, to secure their universal and effective recognition and observance, both among the peoples of member states themselves and among the peoples of territories under their jurisdiction.
This historic document was one of the United Nations’ first main achievements and it laid the basic philosophy and principles that underpinned all legally binding international resolutions and conventions.
Article 1 of the Declaration correctly posits that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.
Further, it notes that human beings are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood. Following this historic act the Assembly called upon all Member countries to raise pubic awareness, consciousness and education about the contents of the Declaration and "to cause it to be disseminated, displayed, read and expounded principally in schools and other educational institutions, without distinction based on the political status of countries or territories."
It was thus therefore that 10 December came to be declared an international Human Rights Day.
Out of the Universal Declaration for Human Rights was born a series of other Declarations and Rights, including those of the children, the women, the youth, the elderly, the oppressed, the minorities and others.
Arising from this challenge, we need to pose to ourselves the simple question: have we done enough as a country, NGOs, government, the intelligentsia, teachers and as civil society to raise public awareness including engaging in a public discourse on what the Declaration means to us in practical terms to give a concrete resonance to the letter and spirit of our own Constitution as a country? It is patently clear that it is incumbent upon all of us to raise the level of education and consciousness around the essence and imperatives inherent in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The tragic reality is that there are many among our people who, for reasons of their vulnerability and lack of power and voice, still yearn for the observance of and respect for human rights, both internationally and here in South Africa.
As we celebrate this historic day, they cry out in silence hoping that somebody somewhere listens to their plight and does something to assist them gain a voice ad to be seen.
They ask the penetrating question, if your human rights mean so much to you, how come our own human rights mean so little to you!
Among those that we refer to are the children of the world and of this country who continue to be exploited and abused, silent and powerless victims of violence perpetrated by knowing and adult humans who are supposed to be protecting them.
Through our own experience as a country, we know this for sure that worse than the crime committed by the perpetrator, is the crime of inaction carried out by those who watch, have the power and the capacity to intervene, but rather sit idly watching and doing nothing while a crime is being perpetrated in front of their eyes.
Many of us are guilty of this crime, either because of our own self-induced ignorance or because we are too lethargic or afraid to do anything.
During this, the Sixteen Days of Activism Against Violence Against and Abuse of Women and Children, it became necessary that we should reiterate the messages we have always made before: both that women’s and children’s rights are human rights, and that violence against and the abuse of women and children must be fought on each one of the 365 days that make up a year.
Yet the cold fact is that there are still too many crimes committed against the children in this country, as a result of which we need to intensify our campaigns, and rally all South Africans to become activists for the protection and advancement of the rights of the child.
The Child Protection Unit of the SAPS has reported the shocking information that there is a radical rise in the rates of violence against children in South Africa, manifested amongst other things in the rising cases of child pornography currently under investigation or before the Courts.
Recently, a Court in Cape Town sentenced to six full years, without the option of a fine, a paedophile who had completely abused his position of privilege as a teacher to engage children in obscene sexual activities.
Perhaps, among what we need to do is to campaign for the registration of anyone found guilty of being a paedophile o that they are never employed anywhere they will come in contact with children, as paedophiles cannot be converted.
Further, we need our nation to engage in a united campaign against all pornography, especially on the national media, both print and electronic, especially the TV.
For those of you who have never seen an image of child pornography, be grateful that you have never and please keep it that way, for the image is too gruesome to the mind and never escapes your memory.
Since 1997, there has been a 1500% increase in the number of child pornography images, according to the Internet Watch Foundation.
According to the Italian organisation, Rainbow, there are more than 17 000 websites devoted to child pornography exclusively on the Internet, with the US and Russia accounting for over 75% of all images, and child pornography syndicates raking in billions of dollars in profits through the sale of these images.
More than 99% of child pornography images are accessed and distributed through the Internet, and children themselves are reported to be increasingly involved in the distribution of these images.
Obviously, we need to engage in a sustained campaign, involving schools, religious institutions, NGOs, the media, parents, teachers and children themselves to combat this dangerous crime.
Related to this, we also need to note that today also marks an epilogue for the Sixteen Days Activism Campaign.
Without any fear of contradiction, we need to unite in a people’s contract to fight violence against women and children. All sectors of our society should unite to fight against woman and child abuse. Government on its own cannot defeat this scourge. All South Africans should challenge the social acceptance of domestic violence and sexual and gender-based abuse.
Most violence against women and children is committed in family homes and by people known to the victims. Accordingly, we must break through the silence in and concealment by families and communities of this crime and expose the perpetrators.
Men and boys who do not abuse should be affirmed as ambassadors of no violence against women and children. All forms of abuse - physical, emotional and verbal – are unacceptable
Crime fighting partnerships with government help empower survivors and victims of abuse and sensitise them to their rights. They help broaden access to trauma and counselling facilities for victims of violence.
Government is unwavering in its commitment to fight violence against women and children. The Sexual Offences Bill, soon to be passed, will broaden the definition of sexual violence and help ensure that heavy sentences will be imposed on perpetrators who have been charged and convicted.
More and more police officers are undergoing specialised training so that they deal sensitively with cases of violence against women and children.
There are now over 40 specialised Sexual Offences Courts and they will be expanded throughout the country. Government will also establish at least two Community Courts in each province by March 2005 to speed up cases awaiting trial and improve the conviction rate.
16 Days of Activism is a call to action. Let us extend the 16 days of activism into the festive season. Increased violence over the festive period means we must sustain the campaign and ensure that services and support are accessible during this period to reduce.
On this occasion of the launch of the Child Hotline Number, we are proud to announce that in addition to various child protection initiatives, the Films and Publication Amendment Act has been amended to make the investigation and prosecution of Child Pornography offenders more effective. The Act has taken radical steps to provide a broad definition of child pornography and to impose harsher sentences on the culprits.
According to the Act, it is also an offence to possess, create, produce, distribute, import, access, advertise or promote child pornography images. Each of these acts carries a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment. Failure to report knowledge of child pornography images to the police is also an offence. It is also an offence to expose children to pornography. Even if one commits any of these acts outside South Africa, you may be prosecuted when you return to South Africa.
Every child deserves childhood that includes a period of innocence. We are not protecting our children when we, by our silence and inaction, allow them to be used for the sexual gratification of adults. If you know of someone involved with child pornography images or have reason to suspect someone of such a crime, report it to the police immediately.
We are therefore calling upon all organs of civil society to UNITE IN A PEOPLE’S CONTRACT AGAINST CHILD PORNOGRAPHY. In the event that we you stumble across child pornography images or know of a site that contains or advertises child pornography images, call the Hotline (0800 148 148) with that information.
We have a collective duty to protect our children from harmful materials by monitoring our children’s use of the Internet. Critically, we also have a fiduciary responsibility to educate ourselves as responsible parents and as organs of civil society, about the main risks to our children and talk to them to let them know that we are there to guide them and pass on essential safety advise.
The protection of children is not somebody else’s problem but ours.
To give a concrete resonance to the principles of the Film and Publication Act, Cabinet recently approved the appointment of additional Examiners and Chief Examiners of the Film and Publication Board.
I think we need to take advantage of this opportunity to stand up and observe a moment of silence to pay our respect to Mr ML Lakhani who passed away a few weeks ago after his re-appointment by Cabinet as a Chief Examiner. He has, for the past four years, served the board with distinction, excellence, diligence and immeasurable commitment which all of us should emulate. We will miss his counsel, guidance and insightful inputs as we navigate our way into a creating a caring and compassionate society based on the respect to human rights and dignity.
The role of these examiners would include amongst others, the classification and examination of the films, materials, computers and publications, to determine the appropriateness of the language, elements of nudity, levels of violence and cultural expressions and the extent to which it violates or promote the letter and spirit of the Film and Publications Act as well as Constitution of the country.
The central objective of the classification process is to protect children from exposure to inappropriate material by imposing age restrictions and giving consumers advice about the content of a film, publication or a computer game. Classification will or must be balanced with the Constitutional freedoms and the right of South Africans to be protected from materials which they might find offensive.
We need to take a stance against child pornography. By not taking decisive action against child pornography, we are betraying the trust of our children. History will not absolve us for being irresponsible.
I am pleased to announce today that we shall as a Department of Home Affairs soon announce the re-composed and more representative Ministerial Task Team on Child Pornography and shall, in the first half of 2005, convene a National Conference on Child Pornography in order to draw a comprehensive programme of action.
This is a call to action: to unite in action to fight and combat child pornography! Once more, I implore you to Call the Child Hotline number 0800 148148.
I thank you. Media Enquiries: Nkosana Sibuyi Head of Communication
Cell: 082 886 6708
Madiba Thabethe
Spokesperson: Deputy Minister
Cell: 082 888 8613
Issued by: Ministry of Home Affairs
10 December 2004
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