GOVERNMENT ACTION

All the previously deduced, interpolated, collected and processed information was simply a lead to reach this point. All the previous data was necessary for one purpose only: to identify the root cause of the problem and to compare that analysis against the measures that governments took and are taking.

The key elements of previous sections have now become obvious; harm to children comes almost exclusively from Sexual Child Abuse and not from Child Pornography which is, for the most part, a side-effect.

Root Causes

Thus, Sexual Child Abuse root causes can be rated in terms of number of affected children as follows:

• Amateur personal gratification: 73.5%
• Child Marriages: 25%
• Child trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation: 1%
• Children in the prostitution: 0.5%
• Child Pornography: 0%

Measures Taken

As previously explained, most governments concentrate persecutions and prosecutions in this order:

1. Consumers of Child Pornography first (i.e downloaders and viewers)
2. Amateur producers of Child Pornography second
3. Criminal producer organizations third
4. Sexual Child Abuse, last.

How do we know this? Simple. Just read the news. In them we can find press releases from all over the world where "agents of the law" congratulate themselves about the arrest and dismantling of such-and-such "ring" of people that shared Child Pornography. Yet, how many times do you come across similar news describing the success and liberation of children subjected to sexual abuse from their amateur captors or overlords? Almost never.

How about news about cracking down on Child Marriages? Even less.

Child trafficking, commercial sexual exploitation, prostitution? We can't even recall when was the last time we saw a news release of such content.

And yes, we have considered that such news could be biased and that "agents of the law" could actually have a different set of priorities. But this scenario is highly unlikely. If they would have a different set of priorities, then we should be seeing press releases related to such priorities, alas we are not. The whole purpose of such releases is to enhance the reputation of such agents and, in an "enlightened" jurisdiction to act as deterrents. It serves no purpose to hide such news.

Commentary

Considering that for the most part there is sufficient regulatory framework (i.e laws) at the worldwide level, that for the most part there are sufficient "agents of the law", that the full power of the state is behind them, and that they had about a decade to show progress, why is that not only we are seeing no progress at all and their agenda continues to focus on (mostly) irrelevant issues (such as Child Pornography)?

Sadly, we don't have an answer to this question. If we would have to guess, we would guess that this is so because users of Child Pornography are the hanging fruit, easy to pick and easy to serve. They are the fish "agents of the law" continue to shoot in the Internet barrel. Meanwhile, the real harm continues unabated.

This is what government action has brought to the table. An enormous expenditure of tax money, time and effort for very little to show about. Meanwhile, children continue to be sexually abused.

But we can go a step further. The main complaint coming from the "agents of the law" is that it is extremely difficult to identify the physical location of the abuse from Child Pornography materials and with it the perpetrator(s). Yet, intelligence agencies all over the world seem to have no issues identifying the location, name and any other information related to "terrorists" when it suits them. Even more considering that "terrorists" have much more secure means of communication, training and know-how; how is this possible? Even more considering that the amount of population engaged in "terrorist" activities is negligible (e.g. 1000's of people) while the amount of population who sexually abuse children is estimated in about 400 million throughout the world? Answer? Because governments are focused on fighting perceived wars for which their apparatus is geared towards, while minimizing the sexual abuse of children is a messy affair involving civil rights and proper justice. Bureaucratically speaking, it is far easier to simply blow a terrorist out the face of the planet than to catch a sexual child abuser and bring this person to proper justice. We can't use massive "Intelligence systems" for the latter. We can't use spies for the latter. We can't use "special forces" for the latter. We can't send jet planes to bomb the latter. We can't blockade or patrol the latter. All those systems are pretty much useless when it comes to Sexual Child Abuse.

Yet another complaint from "agents of the law" is that for the most part, sexually abused children do not denounce their abuse. This is so prevalent that even UNICEF had a program called "Break the Silence Initiative" to this regard. Yet, we don't see this subject being discussed in schools; schools which, for the most part, are forced to follow state curriculums. Where is this topic in such curriculums? Where are the government-sponsored campaigns? They are, for the most part, non-existent.

How is it possible that "agents of the law" cannot bring to justice the perpetrator(s) of Child Marriages if there are about 100 million of them per year? Even more considering that such marriages are happening in their very own backyard? Because in so doing these actions will be vote-killers and will affect political entities with the power to dismiss such "agents of the law". Or, even worse, such agents agree with such practices.

Lastly, when people are indicted, the expenditure for their imprisonment or punishment fall on the population at large and on their very victims specifically through taxation.

This is what government action has brought you; basically, a status-quo for which you continue to pay through your taxes. Meanwhile, hundreds of millions of children continue to suffer.

THE ABSOLUTE AUSTRO-LIBERTARIAN SOLUTION

Now that we have described what the situation is and what governments are doing (or more precisely, not doing) we can present our solution for your consideration.

The Rights Of The Child

As an introductory way, we will summarize the article The Rights Of The Child which outlines the point of view of Absolute Austro-Libertarianism with regards to children's rights. Basically, as the body of the child (its property) was conceived without a previous voluntary agreement, the parents are liable for any and all damage that such property may suffer. This is so until the child decides to emancipate; at which point the child declares him or herself to be an adult and all parental responsibilities cease to exist. However, all damage previous to the emancipation remains in full force and parents are fully liable for it. That's it. Simple, isn't it?

Root Causes of Sexual Child Abuse

The first question we need to answer is this: Will the root causes change in the Absolute Austro-Libertarian system? The answer is that they may do so but only marginally. How do we know this? Because the amateur personal gratification as well as child marriages are purely subjective decisions which are system-independent. The nature of people abiding by such decisions won't change. And how about trafficking? It may go up a little because there would be no official laws or prosecutions but not much because such enterprises would impose staggering harms to children and with it staggering liabilities on owners as well as customers. And how about Child Pornography? It would remain a source of very marginal harm levels as it is today because it will still be only a side effect. Thus, the following scale would not be significantly affected.

Sexual Child Abuse root causes can be rated in terms of number of affected children as follows:

• Amateur personal gratification: 73.5%
• Child Marriages: 25%
• Child trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation: 1%
• Children in the prostitution: 0.5%
• Child Pornography: 0%

Justice the Absolute Austro-Libertarian way

Our system is based on the notion that the sole purpose of justice is to turn back the clock; this is, to revert the damage that was done to somebody's property without their previous agreement. Sometimes this can be done physically, however, most of the time this will be done though compensation (typically monetary).

Now consider the massive harm (i.e. damage) that the sexual abuse of children brings to children. Even more considering that such damage will have to be endured by children for the rest of their lives. Massive harm implies an even more massive (i.e. gigantic) liability. This, in turn, implies massive payouts (i.e. profits) to people (i.e. parents or organizations) who discover such abuse.

Basically, what this means is that driven by profits a large number of people will be on the lookout for Sexual Child Abuse. This is so because each discovery is excellent business. Which means that there will be plenty of efforts to:

1. Get the children to denounce such abuse
2. Identify culprits
3. Make the culprits pay (literally)

Our system will focus the efforts where they are more effective for the wellbeing of children and will do so automatically and without the need of any kind of intervention, laws, taxes or judicial system. It will do so not through enforcement (which is costly and ineffective) but through voluntary processes (which are free to you since there would be no taxes and will also be effective because of the large monetary payouts). Our system is driven by self-interest and it will be of interest to many people to make a great deal of money.

As this kind of process is solely focused on damage, the origin of the damage itself will be irrelevant. Whether the child suffered abuse due to personal gratification, child marriage or commercial exploitation is irrelevant. What is relevant is the extent of the harm. Thus, in so doing, our system focuses on the most damaged children first or in the most damaging practices. On the same token, this process will focus very little in Child Pornography per-se because, as we have seen, this kind of material imposes very little damage.

In other words, our system automatically adjusts itself to solve the most pressing problem without the need for a centralized command centre (or Congress or Parliament).

In addition, as massive harm implies massive liabilities, this will create a massive deterrent to would be abusers. Even more considering that in our system there would be no countries and no legal barriers. There would be no place on earth where to hide. No bureaucracy. No red-tape. No legalisms. Just plain justice.

But what about if a child is coerced into self-emancipate? Simple, when the child grows up or has the first opportunity to do so, he or she can challenge such emancipation with a suitable mediator. In our system the only reason a contract can be declared null is if the signatory was incapable of understanding the contract. The same logic applies to the statement of emancipation. No mediator in their right mind will acknowledge that a 9 or 10 years old child knew what he or she was doing at the time.  For a detailed explanation of how justice works in our system, see the article Justice in the Austro Libertarian System.

Lastly it must be disclosed that in our system Child Pornography would be readily available. Yet, as our system focuses on solving the root causes, as they decrease so will their side effects i.e. Child Pornography.  

CONCLUSION

Child Sexual Abuse is a large problem throughout the world. However, our current political systems have created a situation which reverses the order in which harm to children is persecuted. It persecutes most vigorously the practices that produce the least harm, leaving untouched (for the most part) practices that produce the bulk of the harm. In addition, when people are convicted of such crimes, the burden of their imprisonment falls on the shoulders of the population.  

In contrast, justice in an Absolute Austro-Libertarian system adjusts itself to the largest harm precisely because it is self-interest driven. Not only is this adjustment automatic, but it presents no burden of any kind onto the population as this population does not need to support imprisonment.

The solution to this problem is not more "enforcement" and more "laws" (which have been failing for over 200 years) but simply releasing the forces of the free-market so that they may correct this issue automatically. Best of it is that you don't have to do anything!

Believe us or not. Your choice. But if you really, really want to do something for those abused children, you should. Believe us, that is.

Note: please see the Glossary if you are unfamiliar with certain words.