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Child Sexual Exploitation in Canadaby Dolina Smith, Former-President, C.A.S.E.
Tragically, children, the most vulnerable of our population are those most at risk from sexual exploitation. Using children as sexual commodities has become a global growth industry. In our own country, even provocative advertisements that sexualize children are symptoms of what has become a disturbing trend. Children have become fair game in our sexually saturated society. When we sexualize children, a daunting descent is begun that puts us on the path of seeing them in a sexual way. Surely our culture is progressive enough to see the consequences of this process of desensitization. This article will briefly explore some of the Canadian laws, studies, and court cases that deal with child sexual exploitation. Many of the laws dealing with this problem are effective. However, too frequently the laws are not enforced, or when they are, charges are often dismissed in court. Sometimes a loop-hole in the law or the use of the Charter of Rights results in someone who admits guilt being given a light or even no sentence at all. This may be because we live in a very sexually charged society. The limits or "line in the sand" are always being moved. In fact, our children constitute one of the newest sexual frontiers. For example, in May 1996, Chateau Mouton Rothchild brought forth a wine label with a drawing of a nude, reclining, pre-adolescent girl. A big debate followed - was the label obscene, or was it art? In California, the label could not be used. A LCBO spokesperson defended the label by stating that that province's moral and artistic climate is more tolerant - "what the heck, this is the 20th century. Let's go ahead with it." (Globe and Mail, May 2, 1996) Rothchild's press release stated "the fragile and mysterious girl seems to hint at some secret promise, a pleasure to be shared." A spokesman for the advertising company stated "the agency is trying to be current with today's attitudes." (Saveur Fare, No. 12, p.2) The statements, along with the picture of a sexually provocative female child left no doubt about the double entendre that was intended by clever profit driven advertisers. There are numerous There
are numerous “jean” billboards and magazine ads of young adolescents. The question often asked is “What
product is being sold?” Calvin
Klein answered that very question when he said, “Sex will sell my jeans.” The
fragrance companies have copied his style. Have you noticed how often these ads portray young children with adults
in a very suggestive relationship? This
in no way says that love and
affection are not extremely important in families. In fact, without love and affection, families fail. However these ads could easily be interpreted as exploitive
relationships with children. In 1996, members of the Ontario Film Review Board stated at their annual luncheon meeting that they would never approve films depicting sex with children. That is no longer their policy. Often these very films that would have been considered illegal a few years ago are now acclaimed as award winning productions.
As
the media champions’ free speech, it also supports many sexual fetishes. One of the most blatant offenses was a Globe and Mail article, September
4, 1997 titled “The untold story of children and sex” which supported and
encouraged sex with children. The
arrival of Howard Stern on Canadian radio is a prime example of how far the line
in the sand has moved. There is not
a sexual deviancy that he has not promoted. Many of these included sex with minors and bestiality. His program is very popular with teenagers and young adults. It is their newest sex education course. The
C.R.T.C. has refused to do anything to remove Howard Stern. In fact, they have stated they are not even monitoring his program. With our regulators ignoring the likes of Howard Stern, the
message is that he is okay, and his comments must be correct and legal. It could be said the newest guideline is “if something is popular, it
must be good.” As
long as popular culture supports and encourages sexual deviancy, Canadian
children are at risk. Those who
make, enforce and interpret the laws are influenced by the culture they live in
-- we all are! The task of protecting children from those who would sexually exploit them is an enormous one. But it is a task that must be done. REMEMBER,
INDIFFERENCE TO EVIL STRENGTHENS EVIL. For More Information Contact:
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