QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Sexual violence towards children and teens/adolescents is one of the worst crimes existing. Integrity and dignity are violated and the consequences can be traumatizing for life. When the acts are, in addition, documented and shared online, it increases and prolongates the suffering. 

The dissemination and consumption of pedocriminal content has also increased sharply in Switzerland in past years.

The clickandstop.ch hotline was launched to combat online images of sexual violence against children and teens/adolescents promptly and efficiently.

clickandstop.ch is first and foremost an online hotline where pedocriminal content can be reported within a few clicks and anonymously. The earlier they are discovered, the sooner the images of sexual violence against children and adolescents can be removed from the internet. If a report leads to successful prosecution of the perpetrators and disseminators of the material, it also makes a contribution towards protecting children and preventing further crimes.

In addition to the opportunity to report pedocriminal content, clickandstop.ch offers professional, free, and (if requested) anonymous consultations for children and adolescents, parents and legal guardians, professionals, and everyone else who has a concern related to the topic of sexual violence against children online. 

In addition, clickandstop.ch campaigns for prevention: We provide information about prevention for children and adolescents at schools from numerous organisations, as well as about therapy offers for people who do not want to become perpetrators. PREVENTION

At clickandstop.ch, images of sexual violence against children and teens/adolescents can be reported, provided that the images can be reached via a web address (URL/domain). REPORT FORM

If you are not sure whether the content in a specific case is relevant to criminal prosecution, our experienced experts will provide information. INFORMATION AND ADVICE

If you personally are affected by a sex-related crime – e.g., blackmail with intimate images – you can seek advice from our experts and discuss the next steps with them.

Yes. Your message is anonymous. You don't have to provide an e-mail address, this is optional. However should you wish to indicate your e-mail, please enter it under «Comments». Consider that in certain cases of criminal prosecution, inquiries by the authorities may be necessary, and that they may contact you directly through the e-mail address you indicated.

Reports to «clickandstop.ch» are passed to the relevant prosecution authority and examined by its specialists. If the content violates criminal law, the authorities will invite the swiss ISP (Internet Service Provider) companies to block, and if technically possible, delete the content.

No. Downloading such content is a criminal offense even if you do it in order to gather evidence. It is also illegal to make screenshots. Rather report the website or the e-mail address on the report form of clickandstop.ch.

If you receive unsolicited pedocriminal material in a message or chat, you can contact clickandstop.ch's experts to ask your questions and get informed about your options.

Pedocriminality is a common term used for different kind of sex-related crimes perpetrated against minors. It comprises a wide range of criminal acts: from sexualized violence (exploitation/demonstration of power through sexualized actions) to sexual violence (satisfaction of a sexual need by the criminal) and to the recording of images (photos and videos) of such acts. The common assumption that all such perpetrators are always pedophiles does not apply, because the deed can be determined by a variety of motives.

Further information:

– «Sexual assaults on children» Swiss Crime Prevention (SKP)

Pedocriminal content includes all type of acts or representations of sexual actions with children and adolescents under 18 years old in photos, videos or comics/illustrations, as well as in writings, other objects and pornographic performances. Jurisprudence defines this term very broadly: even provocative or explicit representations may be relevant to criminal prosecution. Whether the victim is aware of the sexual connotation of the representations is irrelevant.

In colloquial terms, pedocriminal material is called «child pornography». This term minimizes the significance of the act, and is therefore highly inappropriate. Thus the professional world uses the expression CSAM «child sexual abuse material». Legal pornography is defined by the criteria that it takes place among adults and by mutual consent. If children or adolescents are involved, it is always a matter of sexual violence.

More information:

– «Illegal pornography» Swiss Crime Prevention (SKP)

The production and dissemination of pedocriminal content is a serious crime. It is an ex officio crime. That means that the police automatically have to institute criminal proceedings when they learn of a crime of this nature. The Swiss Criminal Code (art. 197 SCC) lays down custodial sentences of up to five years for the production and dissemination of pedocriminal content.

Other acts committed in connection with pedocriminal content are prohibited and may be relevant to criminal prosecution. These include viewing, downloading, and saving such files via screenshot.

This also applies if you want to report such content to clickandstop.ch. You are therefore only allowed to report the web address (URL/domain). It is illegal to secure the material yourself or to create screenshots.

More information: 

– «Illegal pornography» Swiss Crime Prevention (SKP)

Cybergrooming is the term used when adults make contact online with children and adolescents. The perpetrators find out about the victims' preferences, hobbies, and tastes in fashion and music on social networks. They contact the children and adolescents using this knowledge to create a relationship of trust with them which, in the worst case, leads to sexual violence. 

The number of unreported cases of sexual violence against children and adolescents is huge. This also applies to CSAM, images of sexual violence against children and adolescents on the internet. This is why there is no exact data or surveys about the real amount of victims.

INHOPE's Annual Report 2022 gives an insight into the victims. The global network has analyzed all the CSAM material that has been discovered by its members.

According to this report, 3- to 13-year-old children were the ones most affected: images related to this age group has increased, going from 76% in 2020 to 88% in 2022. A contributing factor is self-generated content, produced up to 82% by children of 11-13 years of age. In 11% of cases, those affected were 14 to 17 years old; 1% of cases related to infants up to 2 years of age. In 91% of cases, the victims were girls. 

Further information

– «Annual Report 2022» INHOPE

For the majority of those affected, their pedophile tendencies are a huge burden. They do not want to become perpetrators and often isolate themselves voluntarily. Although this initially reduces the risk of their committing assaults, in the medium to long term, isolation increases the psychological stress – and therefore the risk of indulging their tendencies. 

Those affected are not defenseless against this vicious cycle. Practical experience shows that consultations and therapies reduce the psychological stress and help in developing effective strategies for coping with everyday life.

Those affected can turn to a number of agencies in Switzerland. These agencies offer anonymous consultations and refer people to specialized therapy offerings if required. clickandstop.ch's experts are also available anonymously to those concerned for information, by telephone, contact form, or chat.

Support offerings for people with pedophile tendencies:

German-speaking Switzerland

• forio AG
• Universitäre Psychiatrische Kliniken Basel 
• Kein Täter werden 

French-speaking Switzerland

• Verein DIS NO 
• Consultation de sexologie HUG 
• Consultation Claude Balier CHUV 

Ticino

• Associazione io-NO! 

Our experienced experts will be pleased to provide information. INFORMATION AND ADVICE

Sexual violence among children and adolescents is distinguished from sexual violence against minors by adults. 

Children can display sexual assault behavior as early as kindergarten and elementary school age. Beyond sexual activities such as playing doctors, which form part of children's sexual exploration behavior, they cross other children's boundaries with violence, manipulation or coercion, mostly exploiting a power imbalance. It often starts with harmless comments, but can soon lead to legally relevant situations. Some assaults serve to satisfy sexual curiosity against the will of affected children. In other cases, assaults are used to annoy and humiliate other children by sexual means.

The best way to prevent sexual violence among children and adolescents is age-appropriate prevention. With this method, the focus of teens and adolescents is directed towards the topic of consensus. The term is explained, and they learn to recognize and state their own boundaries and to accept those of others.

Further information 

– «Mein Körper gehört mir!» a prevention program by Kinderschutz Schweiz

Sexting involves the exchange of sex-related texts, images or videos via digital media. Young people like sending their sweethearts pictures of themselves, accompanied by sexual innuendo. To ensure that they do not become liable to prosecution, young people have to follow these rules: 

Sexting with a minor (younger than 18 years) is only exempt from punishment for the recipient if: 

• Both parties are in agreement
  
• No money, other benefits or gifts are offered in exchange for sexual content
  
• Nobody feels blackmailed, threatened or harassed
  
• The sexting content is not distributed to any third parties
  
• The age difference between the two people involved is no more than three years
  
• The participants know one another personally. An online acquaintance whom you have never met in real life does not qualify as someone you know personally. 

The recipient is punishable if: 

• The creator is forced, blackmailed or threatened into creating and sending the image
  
• The age difference between the two people involved is more than three year
  
• Money, other benefits or gifts are offered for the message
• The sexting content is distributed to third parties
  
• The two participants do not know one another personally

The creator/sender is not liable to prosecution if he or she is under age and the recipient agrees to the sexting. 

Sextortion is when intimate photos and videos are used to blackmail someone. Often, the victims are forced to produce further intimate content, carry out sexual acts, or to pay a monetary sum. 

Cybermobbing means mobbing (group bullying) and exclusion in virtual space. The victims are, for example, excluded from groups and chats or exposed with intimate photos/videos on social media. 

Since the spectrum of possible acts is wide, every case has to be considered individually. Passing on intimate images is definitely prohibited and a criminal offense, exclusion is not. Other acts committed in connection with cybermobbing are verbal abuse, defamation, libel, threats, extortion, coercion, and data theft and misuse. These are liable to criminal prosecution.

A person under 16 years has not reached sexual majority. He or she may have tender or sexual relations (e.g. kissing, cuddling, petting, sexual intercourse) with a person who has no more than 3 years age difference, provided that both consent to this and state as such. Anyone who engages in sexual acts with a person under 16 years of age and who is more than three years older than them, will be punished.

At the age of 16, when sexual majority is reached, the 3 years age difference rule no longer applies. They may then freely choose older sexual partners, regardless of their age. 

However, any person who takes advantage of a relationship of dependence (minor's education, care or employment) with a person aged between 16 and 18 is punishable (art. 188 of the Criminal Code). 

If you are certain or have a strong suspicion of sexual violence against a child or teen/adolescent, including online, report it immediately to the police (telephone number: 117).

If you have no concrete suspicion but a vague assumption, you can turn initially to our experts, who will provide you with information. INFORMATION AND ADVICE 

The Victim Support in your canton can also help you in this matter.