http://www.etaiwannews.com/etn/news_content.php?id=1013840&lang=eng_news

Legislators in Jamaica have tentatively approved a bill that would crack down on the possession, production and distribution of child pornography.

The government says the bill makes child pornography a separate crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison and more than $5,000 in fines.

People linked to child pornography previously had to be prosecuted under other statues, such as carnal abuse.

The bill, approved by the Senate on Friday, is needed to better protect children, according to a government statement issued Saturday.

The House of Representatives is expected to debate the bill next week.

Jamaica recently strengthened laws regarding other sexual offenses and created the island's first sex-offender registry.

Further information

• More on child rights in Jamaica
• Handbook on the Optional Protocol on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography (May 2009)
• CRIN issues: sexual exploitation
  

Previous News release items

• 24/07/2009: INTER-AMERICAN COMMISSION: Upcoming visits of Rapporteur on Child Rights
• 24/07/2009: COMISIÓN INTERAMERICANA: Visitas del Relator sobre los Derechos de la Niñez
• 24/07/2009: NAMIBIA: Social networking for children's rights
• 23/07/2009: EGYPT: 75 persons sentenced to death in one month a serious indicator of threat to the right to life
• 23/07/2009: USA: Obama to sign disability rights treaty

Last updated 27/07/2009 02:12:41

Please note that these reports are hosted by CRIN as a resource for Child Rights campaigners, researchers and other interested parties. Unless otherwise stated, they are not the work of CRIN and their inclusion in our database does not necessarily signify endorsement or agreement with their content by CRIN.