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Salvation Army challenges service providers on child porn
Thursday 24 November 2016 I For immediate release
On the eve of the 16 days of activism against violence against women and children, The Salvation Army has called on internet server companies to become highly proactive in combatting cyber child sexual abuse.
Southern Africa PR Secretary for The Salvation Army, Major Carin Holmes, said: “Warnings in other parts of the world that cyber abuse of children is becoming a social emergency are extremely distressing.
“Cyberspace has no geographical boundaries. This means that exploitation of children in poorer countries, such as those in Africa, is a real threat,” she added.
Major Holmes said that internet hosting companies have a duty and responsibility to block child porn images on their servers and refuse to provide services to any website or individual dealing with child porn.
“We also call on such companies to be public and vocal about their abhorrence of child porn. For example, they could carry warnings prominently on their websites and be proactive about their opposition to this practice in social and traditional media spaces. They could also include detail about restricted content in the frequently asked questions that are included on their websites and in their other marketing material,” she said.
Major Holmes added that the gang rape of a 13-year old girl in Nyanga, Cape Town, and the murder of 3-year old Poppie van der Merwe in Brits, North West Province, were shocking examples of the brutality of society.
“One little girl’s life has been brutally ended; another little girl will live forever with the trauma of her experience. The despicable crimes committed against them are a blot on the conscience of all humanity,” she said.
The organisation has also expressed its concern at recent reports of human trafficking taking place in illegal mining activities.
According to a police spokesperson, kingpins are recruiting people from neighbouring countries Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Lesotho, including under-age children, for illegal mining.
Many of these miners, or “zama zamas” as they are known, end up working in dangerous and unprotected conditions underground, resulting in high numbers of deaths.
“It seems that wherever the law is not exercised, or activity is unregulated by law, human traffickers move in to exploit the situation. This is compounded by poverty and lack of job opportunities, which forces people into looking for whatever source of income they can find,” Major Holmes said.
The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by love for God, and its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and meet human needs without discrimination.
The Southern Africa Territory of The Salvation Army encompasses four countries – South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho and Swaziland – and the island of St Helena. Its officers, soldiers and full-time employees provide their spiritual and community services through approximately 230 corps (churches), societies and outposts, as well as through schools, hospitals, institutions for children, street children, the elderly, men and abused women, and daycare, goodwill, rehabilitation and social centres.
ISSUED BY QUO VADIS COMMUNICATIONS ON BEHALF OF THE SALVATION ARMY
Media Contact: Ruth Coggin
Tel: 011-487-0026
Cell: 082-903-5819
CLICK HERE to e-mail Ruth Coggin
Client Contact: Major Carin Holmes
Public Relations Secretary
Tel: 011-718-6745
Cell: 082-994-4351
CLICK HERE to e-mail Carin Holmes