The judicial authorities in Europe draw attention to a worrying increase in sexual abuse on minors in the online environment and demand the involvement of parents and teachers in digital education. Psychologists also warn that grooming is practiced on a larger scale, and victims fall younger children.
In this context, Poland, holder of the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, has recently launched the “Fever” operation – an initiative at European level to combat child pornography. Romania also joined the action, and the DIICOT prosecutors and the specialized police have already carried out over 45 searches in 30 criminal files, ordering 14 persons.
The European authorities point out that more and more children become victims of manipulation in the online environment, often convinced of criminals to expose themselves in indecent hypostases. The reason? The lack of adequate digital education and the absence of a constant dialogue between children, parents and teachers.
The most recent case of this kind took place in Timișoara last day. A 12 -year -old student learning at Theoretical High School “Grigore Moisil” has been filmed twice in degrading hypostases. The first incident happened when the student was at home. He was convinced to undress live, on the Internet, in front of a colleague who recorded the pictures and made them public. The second incident took place after a few days right inside the school. Two older students would have forced him to repeat the gesture in the toilet under the promise of deleting the registration. “The student gave up and was, again, humiliated and registered without his will. Finally, the victim chose to inform the parents, who alerted the student’s teacher teacher,” the Timiș School Inspectorate said. The students involved were sanctioned by the management of the school with written reprimand and the decrease of the note to the bearing at 7.
DIICOT warns that the Internet, although it provides access to information, can become an extremely dangerous space for the little ones. The representatives of the institution recommend a balanced approach in managing the access of children to technology: not prohibitions, but education, supervision and dialogue. “It is essential for parents and educators to adopt an effective educational strategy, based on the correct information of children about the risks in the virtual environment. Only through education can we prevent such tragic situations,” transmit the authorities.
How children fall into the trap of sexual predators
According to psychologists “Save the Children”, the Grooming involves the lure of the little ones on social media platforms in order to obtain compromising materials or to commit abuse. The phenomenon is increasing, and many of the victims are children who produce alone indecent content, convinced that they talk to trustworthy people, attract the attention of the specialists.
Online Grooming is practiced by people who develop relationships with children pretending to be friends. Then I ask them personal information such as their family pleasures, antipathies and circumstances. For example, if a child is alone, neglected by parents or does not spend enough time with them, a potential abuser will pay special attention. In a short time, it will develop a “special relationship” that could make it easier to handle the child.
“The possible abuser will also try to find out if the minor would tell a protective adult about what is happening. He will seek to find out as much about the child’s family and social networks and then try to isolate the child. The adult can use the gifts or promises of gifts or threats and intimidation to obtain a certain minor.” I say the specialists.
Rocolate online, psychologists say, children are determined to have more confidence in a virtual friend than in a stranger they knew face to face. “People who want to corrupt children online can easily access information about the child and hide their true identity, age and sex. Those who corrupt online children may not be restricted by time or the possibility of having a discussion in privacy with a child, as in the real world,” say specialists.
Tips for safe browsing on the Internet
Psychologists have some tips for parents in such a way that they can prevent grooming against children. First of all, the child must be taught not to offer foreign persons that I know online personal information such as name, email address, phone number, home address or school name.
Then, it should always be taken into account that meeting with a person with whom the child was in contact only online can be extremely dangerous. This meeting should only take place with their parents’ permission and only in their company.
Specialists warn that the little ones must be taught not to open emails received from strangers or from foreign persons encountered online, not to open files received from such people. They may contain humiliating, offensive, threatening, intimidating, etc.
And in the chapter confidence we have to pay close attention. Children need to know that anyone online can lie easily. It is possible that a malicious person will hide information about his true identity. There are individuals who post under a false name, a false age, etc. Last but not least, the child should be taught to tell parents, teachers, caregivers or trusted adult if someone or something makes them feel uncomfortable or worried.
Psychologist Radu Leca
Psychologist: “A aggressor will remain aggressor all his life”
Psychologist Radu Leca explained for “Truth” that a sexual aggressor, whether he and minor will always remain an aggressor. “The victim is deeply traumatized, while the perpetrator, who is considered a perpetrator from the age of nine, is deeply satisfied. He will remain a perpetrator during therapy, if he will follow, but also. Basically, he remains a perpetrator all his life. From a sexual point of view, he will feel joy and pleasure when he will perform that act again and again, and again, regardless of therapy ”, explained the specialist. He believes that therapy does not work in most cases, but in the case of minors is the only legal way to which the authorities can call. “It is the only legal solution, although it is for nothing. The aggressors will become so-called “yes-man”. They will say, “Yes, yes, you are right.” In reality, however, I do not hear, I do not see, I do not understand. They are blind, deaf and dumb. “
As for victims, children, to overcome traumas, will need years of psychotherapy. “From a psychological point of view, the victims will be psychologically and psychotherapeutic for the next 20 years”. The specialist explained that, in general, children do not say what happens at school of shame and fear. “R.The light is very large. In general, children do not speak. “ Instead, the specialist continues, it manifests itself: because of stress, some begin to eat compulsive, others have problems with sleep, some fall their hair or get sick of psoriasis.
The specialists emphasize the crucial role that school and family play in protecting children. Information campaigns, digital education courses, psycho -pedagogical counseling hours and the involvement of conducting teachers can contribute to increasing the awareness and developing online behavior. At the same time, the authorities encourage the active involvement of parents in the online activities of children, through frequent discussions about risks, checking the applications used and promoting a confidence climate in which the child will feel safe.
