(LifeSiteNews) — Western nations led by the United States and the European Union (EU) are supporting exceptions to the criminalization of child pornography in a draft UN treaty “against cybercrime.”
The currently drafted exceptions state that porn that does not involve a “real child” or is AI-generated, or created within a “consensual relationship” and kept for “private use” should not have to be prosecuted by governments. This form of the treaty will take effect in the coming months if the majority of countries at the UN General Assembly continue to support it.
Stunningly, 91 countries, including the United States and the European Union, have voted to keep these exceptions, now within Article 14 of the treaty, according to the Italian news outlet Daily Compass.
An Austrian delegate reportedly representing the voice of the EU pointed out during a UN session that in her country as well as other European countries minors as young as 14 are considered legally able to consent to sexual activity with an adult.
(WATCH) Representing the voice of the EU, the Austrian delegate openly supported this view, saying: ‘Children over the age of 14 have the right to develop sexual relationships and choose to have a sexual relationship’ with adults: https://t.co/XA41gDErGn
— Diane Montagna (@dianemontagna) August 28, 2024
“Pictures produced as a part of a legal and voluntary relationship should not be criminalized,” she argued.
Another French delegate claimed that the exceptions are the “bare minimum requirements” to “protec(t)” children from “over-criminalization.”
Daily Compass remarked that this treaty would “open the door” to legalized child sex abuse and could facilitate child trafficking across the globe. Even if children as young as 14 could truly consent to sex with an adult, it is well known that many forms of coercion can be used whereby a child can claim to consent to a sexualized relationship in which their consent is truly lacking.
Delegates from Iran and the Democratic Republic of Congo called for a vote to remove the treaty exceptions to the criminalization of child porn, arguing that they would be exploited to harm children and promote pedophilia. Fifty-one countries joined them in a vote to remove the provisions, but they are now dominated by a Western-led faction in favor of the exceptions.
A delegate from Russia took a jab at the provisions, suggesting they help child sex predators rather than children.
“I would like to ask again, which rights are we protecting, those of criminals or those of victims?” said the delegate, according to Zenith.
The treaty is slated for formal adoption by the UN General Assembly before the end of the year, when it will open the treaty to countries for signature.
“The pedophile lobby, be it high-level bureaucrats in national and international institutions, rulers, men of culture and media opinion makers, managers and international financiers are legalizing pedophilia and child pornography, step by step,” commented Luca Volontè of the Daily Compass. “But we will not be gagged.”