4 December 2001 Media Release Embargo: For immediate release Doctors Calling On SA Government To Attend To Pornography As Causative Factor In Spate Of Child Abuse. The avalanche of under-age rape cases being reported daily in SA is the chickens of unbridled pornography coming home to roost. Internationally, informed fingers are pointing to pornography in all its diverse forms, to be one of the main culprits. The proven link between pornography and child sexual molestation is best highlighted by the Sexually Exploited Child Unit of Los Angeles which found that adult and child pornography was reported in over 60% of the child molestation cases. It should be stated quite frankly that wide-open pornography in post-apartheid South Africa did not bring liberation but dehumanisation. We have information that indicates that sex shops are being visited by floods of young adolescents, many of whom are from areas where this was not possible prior to political liberation. However, to sacrifice cultural and religious sanctions on the altar of political freedom, borders on insanity, because the price is paid with young bodies. They are suffering inhuman and extremely humiliating fates at the hands of adolescent and adult perverts who do not care how their so-called rights infringe on the very survival of the innocent and vulnerable." I meet and treat 25 underage rape victims per week in the Amanzimtoti-district of Durban" said Mrs. Jackie Bransfield, child care activist. This confirms DFL’s fear that innocent toddlers and babies are now paying for our newly acquired sexual freedom. An added factor which aggravates the situation is the unfounded myth/lie that intercourse with a non-infected person e.g. virgins, babies, can rid an infected or presumed infected person of his infection. South Africa signed the first ever "International Treaty on criminal offences committed against or with the help of computer networks, such as the Internet on 22.11.2001." This binding treaty deals amongst other issues with offences related to child pornography. Doctors for Life commends government for signing such a treaty, but would urge urgent action and laws to curb the flood of pornography not only in cyberspace but also in shops. In the light of the HIV/AIDS and with the eye on a healthy and happy future in South Africa, no obstacle, like pornography, should be left unattended to. ### Doctors for Life is a non-governmental organisation of 740 medical doctors. For more information:
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