NCJ Number
102329
Date Published
1986
Length
31 pages
Annotation
This booklet reviews provisions of Canada's existing Federal Code pertaining to child sexual abuse, juvenile prostitution, and pornography, and it outlines proposed legislative reforms in these areas.
Abstract
Existing law bearing upon child sexual abuse pertains to sexual assault, nonassaultive sexual contacts, incest, seduction, buggery and indecency, the corruption of children in their homes, and other offenses. Limitations of current law include differential legislative protection for boys and girls, the general limitation of abuse to vaginal intercourse, and varying ages of legal consent depending on the sex act and the participant's gender. Proposed changes in child sexual abuse legislation will simplify the definition of existing offenses and add others. Current law does not specifically address juvenile prostitution, but proposed code reforms would provide severe penalties for those who solicit, procure, or live on the proceeds of juvenile prostitution. Proposed revisions of the obscenity law would classify pornographic materials as causing physical harm, being sexually violent, and depicting explicit sexual acts. Proposed changes dealing with child pornography address its production, distribution, and possession. Other issues discussed in the booklet include legislation pertaining to missing children, a public awareness program and research, and social and educational initiatives to combat child sexual abuse.