It’s child sexual abuse material — not pornography, Alaska House says • Alaska Beacon
It's child sexual abuse material — not pornography, Alaska House says • Alaska Beacon Alaska Beacon
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Language Matters: Alaska House Advances Bill to Change Terminology in State Law
The Alaska House took a significant step on Wednesday towards addressing the issue of child sexual abuse material by advancing a bill that would change the term “child pornography” to “child sexual abuse material” in state law. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Sarah Vance, R-Homer, aims to correct the misleading nature of the current terminology and emphasize the non-consensual and abusive nature of these acts.
Recognizing Victimhood and Correcting Misconceptions
According to Rep. Vance, the term “child pornography” wrongly implies consent and fails to acknowledge the severity of the crime. As children cannot legally consent to sex or being featured in sexually explicit material, it is crucial to recognize their victimhood and eliminate any suggestion of their complicity. By changing the terminology to “child sexual abuse material,” the bill aims to address this misconception and highlight the non-consensual and abusive nature depicted in these acts.
“Perpetrators are not making or watching pornography, they’re abusing children.”
– Sgt. Matthew DuBois, Juneau Police Department, speaking on his own behalf
Overwhelming Support in the House
House Bill 265, which proposes the change in terminology, passed with a vote of 39-1 in the House. The only dissenting vote came from Rep. David Eastman, R-Wasilla, who argued that the language of the bill was too broad. However, Rep. Vance rejected this argument, emphasizing that the bill aligns with existing Alaska law that defines child pornography as any material depicting the abuse of a child.
Testimony from Law Enforcement
Sgt. Matthew DuBois of the Juneau Police Department testified in favor of the bill before the House Judiciary Committee. Drawing on his 17 years of experience in law enforcement, he emphasized that there is no such thing as child pornography. Instead, the material in question is a result of children being groomed, forced, or exploited by abusers, leading to long-lasting and devastating effects on the victims. Sgt. DuBois stressed that the current terminology wrongly implies a subcategory of legal pornography, when in reality, perpetrators are not making or watching pornography but rather abusing children.
Support from Advocates Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault
The bill has garnered support from statewide advocates against domestic violence and sexual assault, including the Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault. In a letter of support, they highlighted how the term “child pornography” fails to capture the true nature of the crimes committed against children. They emphasized that children do not choose to engage in such acts and should not have their suffering reduced to images of them posing provocatively. The letter further stated that these crimes should not be filmed, distributed, or repeatedly watched by offenders.
A Step Towards Protecting Victims
Rep. Vance has been a strong advocate for protecting victims of sexual crimes, particularly child victims. This bill marks her first successful endeavor in passing legislation aimed at addressing this issue. While the bill does not currently have a companion in the Senate, members of the Senate Majority have indicated that they will review it and may consider it in the Judiciary Committee. Senate President Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak, acknowledged that the session is nearing its end but did not rule out the possibility of taking up the bill.
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SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
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SDG 5: Gender Equality
- Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation.
- Indicator: The article discusses a bill that aims to change the term “child pornography” to “child sexual abuse material” in Alaska state law. This change acknowledges the non-consensual and abusive nature of the acts depicted in sexually explicit material involving children, aligning with the target of eliminating all forms of violence against women and girls.
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SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
- Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children.
- Indicator: The article highlights the need to change the terminology from “child pornography” to “child sexual abuse material” to accurately reflect the abusive nature of the acts. This aligns with the target of ending all forms of violence against children.
Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 5: Gender Equality | Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation. | The article discusses a bill that aims to change the term “child pornography” to “child sexual abuse material” in Alaska state law. This change acknowledges the non-consensual and abusive nature of the acts depicted in sexually explicit material involving children, aligning with the target of eliminating all forms of violence against women and girls. |
| SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions | Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children. | The article highlights the need to change the terminology from “child pornography” to “child sexual abuse material” to accurately reflect the abusive nature of the acts. This aligns with the target of ending all forms of violence against children. |
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Source: alaskabeacon.com
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