SWGfL’s Post

World Vision celebrates the passage of the REPORT Act in the House of Representative. Endorsed and advocated for by World Vision, the bill will strengthen safeguards to #ProtectKidsOnline and increase the reporting of online child sexual exploitation and abuse on websites and social media platforms. “Law enforcement experts and victims advocates agree advancements in technology have led to an explosion of images depicting child sexual abuse available and distributed online," said Rep. Madeleine Dean (D-PA). “By making updates to the law, the REPORT Act will help law enforcement evolve with this threat.” The passage of the bill marks a significant step toward modernizing the law and ensuring children in the U.S. and around the globe are safe online. "As an organization dedicated to protecting children, we are grateful for Congress' bipartisan collaboration that helped champion the REPORT Act across the finish line," said Lisa Bos World Vision Senior Director of Government Relations. "Now passed in the House and Senate, the legislation is headed to the President's desk to be signed into law." Learn more about the #REPORTAct: https://lnkd.in/eigW35eG #WVAdvocacy

How I Used an Emmy to Change the Law for Survivors of Trafficking Today marks the 23rd anniversary of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA), a milestone that transformed how the world confronts human trafficking. While it’s a collective win, I want to share five key points on how my Emmy-winning documentary "The Selling of Innocents" and subsequent testimony to the U.S. Senate contributed to this transformative legislation. 1️⃣ The Power of Storytelling: My documentary served as a narrative tool that brought to life the painful reality of sex trafficking. It became more than just a film; it was evidence, a call to action that couldn't be ignored. 2️⃣ Bridging Activism and Policy: It's one thing to raise awareness; it's another to translate that into actionable change. My Senate testimony was a critical juncture that bridged the gap between activism and legislative action. 3️⃣ The Importance of Allies: Changing the law isn't a solo endeavor. We had a coalition of activists and empathetic government officials who were committed to making a difference. Their support was invaluable in passing the TVPA. 4️⃣ Shifting the Narrative: Before TVPA, the blame often fell on the victims. The passage of this law shifted that narrative globally. It emphasized that the victims are just that—victims—and the perpetrators are the ones who should be held accountable. 5️⃣ The Ripple Effect: The TVPA didn’t just impact U.S. policy; it set a precedent for anti-trafficking laws worldwide. It exemplifies what can happen when media, activism, and governance come together for a common cause. As we celebrate the 23rd anniversary of the TVPA, let's remember that it stands as a testament to what can be achieved when different sectors unite for a shared goal. Here’s to continued progress in eradicating human trafficking and to the countless lives this law has and will save. #IKickAndIFly #emmys #TVPA23 #EndHumanTrafficking #ThePowerOfUnity #EmmyForChange

How I Used an Emmy to Change the Law for Survivors of Trafficking Today marks the 23rd anniversary of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA), a milestone that transformed how the world confronts human trafficking. While it’s a collective win, I want to share five key points on how my Emmy-winning documentary "The Selling of Innocents" and subsequent testimony to the U.S. Senate contributed to this transformative legislation. 1️⃣ The Power of Storytelling: My documentary served as a narrative tool that brought to life the painful reality of sex trafficking. It became more than just a film; it was evidence, a call to action that couldn't be ignored. 2️⃣ Bridging Activism and Policy: It's one thing to raise awareness; it's another to translate that into actionable change. My Senate testimony was a critical juncture that bridged the gap between activism and legislative action. 3️⃣ The Importance of Allies: Changing the law isn't a solo endeavor. We had a coalition of activists and empathetic government officials who were committed to making a difference. Their support was invaluable in passing the TVPA. 4️⃣ Shifting the Narrative: Before TVPA, the blame often fell on the victims. The passage of this law shifted that narrative globally. It emphasized that the victims are just that—victims—and the perpetrators are the ones who should be held accountable. 5️⃣ The Ripple Effect: The TVPA didn’t just impact U.S. policy; it set a precedent for anti-trafficking laws worldwide. It exemplifies what can happen when media, activism, and governance come together for a common cause. As we celebrate the 23rd anniversary of the TVPA, let's remember that it stands as a testament to what can be achieved when different sectors unite for a shared goal. Here’s to continued progress in eradicating human trafficking and to the countless lives this law has and will save. #IKickAndIFly #TVPA23 #EndHumanTrafficking #ThePowerOfUnity #EmmyForChange

As of today, reformed intimate image laws have come into force across England and Wales. These long-awaited amendments, introduced as part of the Online Safety Act, now include legislation on intimate image abuse in the Sexual Offences Act 2003. The amendments will have a significant impact on those affected by intimate image abuse by broadening the scope of offences and eliminating the previous requirement for the prosecution to prove perpetrators intended to 'cause distress' when sharing intimate images or film without consent.   Key Amendments: ▶ Removal of the Intent Requirement: The necessity to prove the intent to cause distress has been eliminated. ▶ Serious Offence and Imprisonment: Sharing intimate images or films without consent is now classified as a serious offence, with a potential punishment of up to two years of imprisonment. ▶ Enhanced Protection Against Sexual Gratification: A distinct serious offence is established if the sharing of images or films without consent is done for sexual gratification. ▶ Inclusion of Deepfakes: The law now explicitly covers deepfakes, addressing the evolving landscape of image-based abuse. ▶ Lifelong Anonymity Granted: Individuals who have faced intimate image abuse are now granted lifelong anonymity for increased protection.   These welcomed changes simplify the process of charging and convicting individuals who share or threaten to share intimate images, films or deepfakes without consent. Anyone engaged in such activities is now in violation of the law, and the potential consequences, depending on the severity of the offence, include imprisonment for up to two years.

This week’s Senate Judiciary Committee hearing marked a significant moment in the ongoing battle against online child sexual exploitation. Major social media CEOs and senators came together to shine a spotlight on this urgent issue, elevating the conversation around digital child safety to new heights. At Thorn, we recognize the importance of such high-profile discussions. They not only raise public awareness but also spotlight the urgent need for effective legislation and responsible action by online platforms. The session underscored the vital need for collaborative action between policymakers, platforms, and organizations like Thorn. We break down the implications of the hearing and share the biggest takeaways from the proceedings in our latest blog. https://lnkd.in/gkkfHjgu

I was at hair salon and girls were discussing about their peers being victim of image based abuse and how they are contemplating suicide or disappearing from the community after their intimate partners released their video with out their consent. I was wandering what is their remedie when it comes to the law. Image-Based Abuse: Image-based abuse refers to the act of taking or sharing intimate photos or videos without a person’s consent. It is a growing problem worldwide, especially among young people. In some countries, laws have been enacted to address this issue. For instance, in Australia, since 2015, it has been specifically prohibited to share private, sexual photos or videos of another person without their consent1. The legal framework aims to protect victims from the emotional distress, social isolation, and bullying that often accompany such violations. Ethiopian Legal Context: Ethiopia has its own legal system, and it’s essential to consult local legal experts or official sources to understand the specific protections available. Generally, the release of intimate images without consent could potentially violate privacy rights, human dignity, and other legal provisions. Criminal laws related to privacy, defamation, and harassment may apply, but the effectiveness of enforcement depends on various factors, including awareness, reporting mechanisms, and legal infrastructure. Seeking Support: Victims should seek support and legal advice promptly. Civil remedies (such as seeking damages) and criminal charges (if applicable) may be available. It’s essential to encourage victims to come forward, break the silence, and seek justice. Any thoughts 🧐?

it horrifies me to think of people hurt, killed, frightened and the obvious lack of resources for remand, correction, intervention, information AND prevention. The issue of violence and control is, in my understanding, complex and therefore the solution will be complex and I understand multi-dimensional and needs to be evidence-based. Men's Health & Wellbeing Western Australia

In the raft of amendments tabled by the Government last night, there's a very significant concession to amend the #OnlineSafetyBill to require Ofcom to produce guidance to address the disproportionate impact of harm online to women and girls. (Until now, their consistent position was that the Bill had sufficient protections already.) This move is testament to the might of a fab coalition - including wonderful campaigners Refuge, #EndViolenceAgainstWomen coalition, Glitch, NSPCC, 5Rights and formidable experts Prof Lorna Woods University of Essex & Clare McGlynn - and the commitment of many MPs and Peers across all parties, particularly Nicky Morgan whose influence in the Lords has been vital. It's been a privilege to work alongside them all. While it does not go as far as a code of practice on #VAWG (previously developed by the coalition) would have done, the guidance will mean that platforms will need to focus on how they address the existing criminal offences and codes through a gendered lens. There's still much more to be done - but for now, with a requirement written into the Bill that the guidance should be produced in consultation with Domestic Abuse Commissioner and the Victims Commissioner, this is a major step forward. #onlineharms #onlinesafety #advocacy #internetgovernance #internetsafety #internetregulation

#SaferInternetDay was on 6 February, but Internet should be safe for women and girls e v e r y d a y. 🔔 Here's a few reminders: 🔸 Internet should be a safe place for ALL. 🔸 Online violence is REAL violence. 🔸 Technology-facilitated violence IS a human rights violation.

#OSA #onlinesafetyact helpful timeline from Ofcom's post https://lnkd.in/d8Qfm_Hf (all copyright Ofcom of course!) plus detailed implementation info is at https://lnkd.in/dHNjThUE From Ofcom's post, there will be three phases, with the timing driven by requirements of the Act and relevant secondary legislation: ▶Phase one: Illegal content First consultation on illegal harms – including child sexual abuse material #CSAM, #terrorist content and #fraud – on 9 November 2023. This will contain proposals for how services can comply with the illegal content #safety duties and draft #codesofpractice. ▶Phase two: #Child safety, #pornography, and protecting women and girls First consultation, due in December 2023, will set out draft guidance for services that host pornographic content. Further consultations relating to the child safety duties under the Act will follow in Spring 2024; draft guidance on protecting women and girls by Spring 2025. ▶Phase three: Additional duties for categorised services These duties – including to publish #transparency reports and to deploy user empowerment measures – apply to service which meet certain criteria related to their number of users or #highrisk features of their service. Ofcom advice to the Secretary of State regarding categorisation, and draft guidance on approach to transparency reporting, in Spring 2024. What about #categories? Subject to the introduction of secondary legislation setting the thresholds for categorisation (i.e. remember it's the Secretary of State who decides on thresholds), Ofcom expects to publish a register of categorised services by the END of 2024. Further proposals, including a draft code of practice on fraudulent #advertising and #transparency notices will follow in early and mid-2025 respectively, with FINAL codes and guidance published around end 2025. Still, it's best to start preparing ASAP - 2025 isn't that far off when many changes will be needed including to #policies/ #processes, #technical as well as #organisational, plus changes to #terms and #riskassessments. Not to mention, the need to consider how best to comply with BOTH the OSA AND the #EU #Digitalservicesact #DSA in a practicable way, for those who are caught by both laws! #onlinesafety #children