Co-operation crucial to combat spread of child pornography online, highlights OSCE Vienna conference

VIENNA, 20 September 2007 - Enhancing the ability of law enforcement bodies to investigate and prosecute those responsible for the sexual exploitation of children over the Internet is the focus of an OSCE conference that began in Vienna today.

"Child pornography has become a global crisis, and is estimated to be a multi-billion dollar industry world-wide, fuelled by the Internet," said Kevin Carty, Senior Police Adviser to the OSCE Secretary General.

"Studies show that the victims are becoming younger and younger. The exploitation of these children is not only a human tragedy but it is also increasingly a lucrative organized crime activity."

The conference brings together law enforcement officials as well as representatives from international organizations, civil society and the business community to share best investigation practices, present case studies, discuss co-operation with the private sector and review the latest technology available to proactively fight the crime.

A primary aim of the OSCE conference is to help investigators benefit from the technologies and training courses that are in many cases obtainable free of charge, added Carty.

"It is one of our goals at the OSCE to help connect the dots in the fight against this growing problem," he said. "Co-operation and sharing information are absolutely critical when it comes to borderless crimes like child pornography on the Internet."

Arturo Perez, the Deputy Head of the Spanish delegation to the OSCE, speaking on behalf of the Spanish OSCE Chairman-in-Office, added: This meeting is a testimony to the OSCE and the participating States' commitments, which once again have facilitated dialogue and co-operation with the aim of solving a global crisis - the sexual exploitation of children on the Internet."

On Friday, the final day of the conference, experts from Austria, Belgium and Russia will be holding presentations on recent cases they have successfully investigated, and there will be a special session devoted to examining how law enforcement can work with the private sector in fighting this type of crime. Representatives from Microsoft, VISA, Internet Service Providers, hotline operators, and specialized NGOs will participate.

The conference is organized by the OSCE Strategic Police Matters Unit and funded by Spain, France, the United States and Belgium.