Hotline launched to combat child porn

An "internet hotline" allowing computer users to anonymously report websites with child pornography is to be launched by a child advocacy group tomorrow.

The Child Alert Hotline has been developed by End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography, Child Sex Tourism and Trafficking in Children (Ecpat) and the Department of Internal Affairs.

"With an alarming increase in the number of clicks to inappropriate websites, the need for such a tool is paramount in protecting the innocence of our children," said Ecpat director Alan Bell.

"The hotline provides a browser plug-in through a quick, safe download. If a suspect website is viewed, the computer user simply clicks on the Child Alert icon and the screen will disappear."

Mr Bell said anyone reporting a suspicious site would remain anonymous.

"There is an explosion of illegal child sexual abuse images on the internet.

"The trend is that children being abused are younger and that the abusive acts are becoming more violent. Every sexual exploitation image is a real child, who has been abused, raped and degraded," he said.

The Child Alert browser plug-in was available for free download from www.childalert.co.nz

Disks containing the software were also available through The Body Shop stores.

- NZPA