Alarming rise in child pornography cases in Ukraine – reports
Source: Opendatabot
Every second case of pornography investigated in Ukraine this year involves children, according to a report from Opentabot. The data, covering the first seven months of 2024, reveals over 2,300 criminal cases related to pornographic content, with child pornography cases outnumbering those related to adult content for the third consecutive year.
The grim statistics show 1,145 cases under Article 301 of Ukraine’s Criminal Code, which deals with the import, production, sale, and distribution of pornographic materials. An even more concerning 1,198 cases have been filed under Article 301-1, specifically targeting child pornography. This marks a 27% increase in cases related to adult content compared to the entire previous year.
For the first time in three years, the number of cases concerning adult and child pornography has reached a similar level. However, the situation is far from balanced. While 68% of cases involving adult content have reached the courts, only 57% of child pornography cases have made it that far—down from 69% last year.
Adding to the complexity, 21 cases involving adult pornography and 25 involving child pornography were closed earlier this year. The ongoing legal challenges highlight the state’s struggle to define what constitutes “distribution” of pornography, with the law failing to differentiate between a private nude photo sent to a partner and commercially distributed sexual content.
Last year, lawmakers introduced bill No. 9623 to partially decriminalize adult pornography, aiming to free up law enforcement resources and reduce corruption within the system. Yet, the bill has seen little progress, largely due to resistance from the Parliamentary Committee on Law Enforcement.
Igor Samokhodskyi, head of the ICT sector at the BRDO Office for Effective Regulation, said that decriminalizing voluntary adult pornography could save state funds, generate additional tax revenue, and allow law enforcement to focus on real crimes—particularly the distribution of child pornography.
Amendments to Ukraine’s enforcement proceedings legislation, initiated by the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine, have entered into force. Among other measures, the reform provides for the automated lifting of attachments on bank accounts immediately after debts in enforcement proceedings have been fully settled. The main practical benefit for citizens is the complete elimination of the need to contact an enforcement officer in person and wait for paper decisions once the debt has been paid.
The 157th Separate Mechanized Brigade has received another batch of supplies as part of Rinat Akhmetov’s Steel Front military initiative. This time, the military received seven quad bikes and four mobile shower and bath units.
In my previous column, I wrote about social innovations in Ukraine. Those innovations are part of civic resilience and the democratization of security, which Europe is paying close attention to right now. The EU is trying to work out how to spread responsibility for its own security across society as a whole, rather than leaving it to institutions alone. It is looking for concrete ways to bring ordinary people into the work of defense and resistance.
Petro Poroshenko’s lawyers have appealed to the High Anti-Corruption Court demanding that NABU be obligated to register proceedings regarding the fact of exerting influence on the court and to recognize Petro Poroshenko as a victim in the case of the Deputy Head of the Office of the President, Iryna Mudra, due to her pressure on Supreme Court judges who were considering a lawsuit to overturn sanctions.
Internationally recognized brands and financial institutions should direct capital to Ukraine now, not waiting for the hostilities to end. This was emphasized by Rinat Akhmetov, president of FC Shakhtar, during a working visit to UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, where he met with UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin.