May 30, 2008 - Toronto - The Supreme Court of Canada has strongly endorsed the rights of children to be free from Internet child abuse in a ruling released today. By a majority of 8-1 the Court held that a man who abused his daughter and her friend, recorded images of the abuse for distribution over the Internet, and possessed a large child abuse image collection, should receive a sentence of fifteen years and thereafter be supervised for ten years as a Long Term Offender.
The Supreme Court overturned the ruling of the Quebec Court of Appeal which had reduced the sentence to nine years. The Supreme Court restored the original sentence imposed by the trial judge.
Paul Gillespie, CEO of KINSA, the Kids' Internet Safety Alliance, said, "this case acknowledges the voices of children, who for years have suffered silently from the devastating impact of online child abuse. It sends a clear and much needed message that Internet child abuse is one of the most destructive crimes one can commit in an era when so many of our children are on line".
KINSA Legal Director David Butt said that "the Supreme Court has sent a powerful message to courts across Canada about the appropriate range of sentencing for crimes of this type. It is now up to courts across Canada to follow the Supreme Court's leadership." Butt added that "this case has important implications internationally as well. Internet child abuse investigations are commonly international in scope. Canada's sentences for Internet child abuse crimes have been sadly far below the appropriate international norms and with today's ruling hope the trend is reversed and that we are on the way to correcting that sad fact."
About KINSAThe Kids' Internet Safety Alliance (KINSA) was established as an aggressive and proactive response to the negative aspects of the Internet that harm young people. While addressing this grave social problem, KINSA also acknowledges and celebrates the positive, creative and inspiring ways children and youth are using the Internet.
For further information, contactMichael Ras, Vice Chair647-228-2339Mike.ras@hillandknowlton.ca