Countering Child Pornography and Online Sexual Exploitation of Children with Criminal Law: European and Comparative Perspective

The fundamental goal of the final paper is to introduce the recent situation of the issue of child pornography and online sexual exploitation in our digital era as well as recounting the history and the origins of the phenomenon. The research involved the exploration of sociological and criminological definitions of child pornography and online sexual exploitation and compared the various treaties adopted on European and International scale as well as contemplated the jurisdictions and relevant treaties of two legally distinct nations: Germany and the United Kingdom. The thesis is divided into three chapters, among which the first part is focused on general definitions of child pornography as well as age of consent and risks associated with the issue. The second chapter delves into the International and European framework and also brings up the proposal of adopting a unified international legal framework, which leads to the exploration of the British jurisdictional system and later the one of Germany. The study concludes that the ongoing issue needs more international involvement to raise awareness and provide support for children all around the world. Aside from researching the topic, which is of great importance to me, there are some of the most important abilities I have acquired over the process. The thesis's primary goal is to raise awareness of the prevalent issue of sexual predators' pervasiveness and the necessity of protecting minors' rights and providing appropriate care for them in order to maintain the health of our society.