Introduction > IAB Chairwoman's Preface
IAB Chairwoman's Preface
The proliferation of images of child sex abuse on the Internet is a global problem and a major challenge for all of us involved in the fight to protect our children in the rapidly changing world of on-line technologies. As paedophiles develop ever more complex and sophisticated methods of disseminating their illegal material, we must be ever more resourceful and determined.
While there is some way to go before use of the Internet is fully embedded in Irish society, there is little doubt that already it been a major contributor to the development of our economy. It is also a certainty that our children are growing up in a world where they will be at a disadvantage if they do not acquire the skills to use all the new technologies as they come on stream. There is ample evidence to suggest that even very young students are using the Internet as a learning tool and it is not fanciful to suggest that a laptop will soon replace some of those heavy books in their school bags.
Thanks to the many research initiatives and awareness programmes the “downside” issues of Internet use have been highlighted and publicised. Governments, industry and users have all come together in an attempt to combat the problem with some success, but the fight must go on. In particular the illegal use of the Internet by paedophiles continues to challenge the best efforts of all concerned to eradicate this heinous crime. The exchange of images of children being sexually abused continues to proliferate and in some instances have become even more extreme.
This is a global problem that does not respect national boundaries and requires a global response. The Hotline in Ireland, together with its international counterparts coordinated through the INHOPE network, acts as the early warning system for the public to draw attention to illegal content on the Internet. The Hotline fulfils this essential role by rapidly delivering qualified detail of illegal content to police authorities in the source country so that action may be taken against the perpetrators.
As Chairwoman of the Government appointed Internet Advisory Board, I am consistently impressed with the professionalism and dedication of the ISPAI www.hotline.ie staff in dealing with this unsavoury content and I commend those members of the industry who continue to support the work of the Hotline. I appeal to the public to use the Hotline and to become more aware of the damage being done to our society by paedophiles.
On behalf of the members of the Internet Advisory Board, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Paul Durrant, General Manager of the www.hotline and his staff for their professionalism and dedication. Their work continues to make the Internet a safer place for all our citizens, particularly our children.
AUDREY CONLON
Chairwoman
Internet Advisory Board
Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform
Dublin.
February 2008
