Organisations fighting against the abuse of children are once again making a call for the term “child pornography” to be done away with. The organisations believe the right term, which shows the gravity of the crime, should be child sexual abuse material.

They say that using the term child pornography assumes that a child consented to be part of the act and minimises the fact that they are victims of violence and abuse.

In its 2021 report, the South African Law Commission also recommended amendments to the Sexual Offences Act and Child Justice Act in favour of the term Child Sexual Abuse Material.

Teddy Bear Foundation director, Dr Shaheda Omar, says, “Child pornography minimises the harmful implications. So, when we speak about harmful implications, it sends a very neutral connotation, but it also an act of grandiosity, erotisisation. It is not something that generates a feeling of victim there.”

Meanwhile, Media Monitoring Africa says the substitution of the term child pornography should not only happen in law.

The organisation’s Lister Rikhotso has called on the media to also start being politically correct when reporting on crimes against children.

“There is nothing that is stopping government, the authorities, even media, all stakeholders from adapting with the times and using the terms especially now that we have recognised the gravity of the situation, the gravity of the acts,” says Rikhotso.

“The fact that children are being sexually abused and exploited. We need to move with the times and using the proper terminology, especially when it comes to crimes against children is very crucial, especially if you are bringing attention to the issues that children are facing and also if you want re-dress,” he adds.