Mr. Speaker, the plague of child pornography is a global program in need of a global response. A study released recently by the International Center for Missing and Exploited Children paints a sad and sobering picture.
Of the 184 countries studied, more than half have no laws addressing child pornography at all, and in most of the countries, the existing laws are inadequate.
This perverse form of exploitation horribly scars its victims, not only in the actual production of this sordid smut, but their pictures are then broadcast to the world online.
At a meeting recently of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, I offered a resolution on behalf of Chairman Chris Smith and the U.S. delegation, calling on the nations of the world to address this growing problem.
The resolution calls on lawmaking bodies of the world to take a hard-line stance against this horrific practice and enact stiff criminal penalties for production and consumption.
I am pleased the resolution was unanimously adopted. Child pornography is a despicable business, and this resolution is a positive first step in the fight against it.
