A court in Sydney, Australia, acquitted Brian Houston, the founder of global megachurch Hillsong, of hiding sexual abuse committed by his father, former pastor Frank Houston, in the 1970s.

A court in Sydney, Australia, acquitted Brian Houston, the founder of global megachurch Hillsong, of hiding sexual abuse committed by his father, former pastor Frank Houston, in the 1970s. On Thursday, the Downing Centre Local and District Court pardoned Houston, 69, by saying that he agreed to the wishes of his father's victim Brett Sengstock by not reporting the crimes to the cops. The court acquitted him of concealing an indictable offence. Houston told reporters outside the court that he will always be sad for the people whose lives were tragically hurt. "But I am not my father. I did not commit this offence," he added. Gareth Christofi, the magistrate, said there was "little doubt" Houston knew Sengstock did not want to report the abuse. "Therefore, he had a valid excuse for not bringing the matter to the attention of the police," said Christofi. ALSO READ | WHO holds first traditional medicine summit Meanwhile, the victim, Sengstock, who rejected his right to anonymity, was in the court during the hearing. Previously, he told the court that from the age of seven, Brian Houston's father, Frank Houston, who was a pastor, repeatedly raped him. After the verdict, Sengstock said, "Frank Houston was no pioneer for Christianity. His legacy remains a faded memory of a paedophile. Regardless of today's outcome, I have received a life sentence." Brian came to know about the abuse decades later. He informed the Church leaders about it. However, he did not tell the police. Frank Houston admitted his crime. Although the church defrocked him, he was never charged and died in 2004. WATCH | Chandrayaan-3: Challenges ahead of Vikram lander's solo journey to the Moon Frank Houston confessed to his son about his crimes in 1999. Brian maintained in court that he did not report his father's crimes because when he found out, Sengstock was an adult and did not want the police involved. In 2022, when Brian was accused of concealing the crime from the police, he told Sydney's Downing Centre local, "I have no doubt now my father was a serial paedophile, and we'll probably never know the extent of it." Frank Houston admitted he sexually abused children to other executives in Australia's Pentecostal church network. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Brian Houston: Sydney court acquits Hillsong church founder for hiding father's child sex crimes

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Around 100 arrested in FBI child abuse in US, Australia

Around 100 people were arrested in the United States and Australia over child sexual abuse allegations and 13 children were rescued in an international probe launched by the Federal Burau of Investigation (FBI) after two of its officers were killed while investigating the international paedophile ring.

The joint operation, dubbed ‘Operation Bakis’, by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and FBI led to 79 arrests, 65 indictments, and 43 convictions in the US, while 19 men were arrested in Australia.

The global child abuse ring was a “peer-to-peer network” with “some offenders committing offences for over 10 years,” Australian Federal Police Commander Helen Schneider said in a news conference on Tuesday (Aug 8).

“Some of the children were known to the men who were arrested,” Schneider added but did not divulge further.

Those arrested in Australia are between the ages of 32 to 81 years old, the federal police agency said. So far, two have been sentenced.

<h2>Accused involved in IT profession</h2>

The AFP said that most of the Australian suspects had high knowledge of internet networks and had been involved in such occupations.

"Members used software to anonymously share files, chat on message boards and access websites within the network," it said.

Some were also accused of having produced their own child abuse material to share with members of the network, the agency said.

“Viewing, distributing or producing child abuse material is a horrific crime, and the lengths that these alleged offenders went to in order to avoid detection makes them especially dangerous — the longer they avoid detection the longer they can perpetuate the cycle of abuse," Australian Federal Police Commander Helen Schneider said in a statement.

<h2>Probe after two FBI agents shot dead</h2>

The probe was launched in 2022 by the Australian federal elegancy after the FBI provided intelligence inputs to the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation about the individuals being part of a "peer-to-peer network allegedly sharing child abuse material on the dark web."
<img alt="Special Agent Daniel Alfin (left) and Special Agent Laura Schwartzenberger" data-caption="&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;em&gt;Special Agent Daniel Alfin (left) and Special Agent Laura Schwartzenberger were shot dead in 2021&lt;/em&gt;" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="36c9587e-a625-414d-8e16-6f2ea6b62925" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/FBI%20agents.png" />
The FBI was on the lookout for the paedophile group after two of its agents investigating the alleged ring were shot dead in 2021 while executing a search warrant for a computer programmer suspected of possession of child abuse material, reports CNN.

Agents Daniel Alfin and Laura Schwartzenberger were found dead at a Sunrise, Florida apartment complex, while three other agents were wounded and the suspect in the shooting died at the scene.

At the time, Miami FBI Special Agent in Charge George Piro called the shooting and the loss of Alfin and Schwartzenberger, “a very dark day for the FBI.”

“This operation was highly complex,” the FBI’s legal attaché in Canberra, Nitiana Mann, told reporters Tuesday.

“The complexity and anonymity of these platforms mean that no agency or country can fight these threats alone," he said, adding that further arrests might be on the cards.

More than 200 international leads had been sent to partner countries and more than 300 investigations opened as a result of the joint operation, Mann said.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Around 100 people were arrested in the United States and Australia over child sexual abuse allegations and 13 children were rescued in an international probe launched by the Federal Burau of Investigation (FBI) after two of its officers were killed while investigating the international paedophile ring.

Around 100 people were arrested in the United States and Australia over child sexual abuse allegations and 13 children were rescued in an international probe launched by the Federal Burau of Investigation (FBI) after two of its officers were killed while investigating the international paedophile ring. The joint operation, dubbed ‘Operation Bakis’, by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and FBI led to 79 arrests, 65 indictments, and 43 convictions in the US, while 19 men were arrested in Australia. The global child abuse ring was a “peer-to-peer network” with “some offenders committing offences for over 10 years,” Australian Federal Police Commander Helen Schneider said in a news conference on Tuesday (Aug 8). “Some of the children were known to the men who were arrested,” Schneider added but did not divulge further. Those arrested in Australia are between the ages of 32 to 81 years old, the federal police agency said. So far, two have been sentenced. Accused involved in IT profession The AFP said that most of the Australian suspects had high knowledge of internet networks and had been involved in such occupations. "Members used software to anonymously share files, chat on message boards and access websites within the network," it said. Some were also accused of having produced their own child abuse material to share with members of the network, the agency said. “Viewing, distributing or producing child abuse material is a horrific crime, and the lengths that these alleged offenders went to in order to avoid detection makes them especially dangerous — the longer they avoid detection the longer they can perpetuate the cycle of abuse," Australian Federal Police Commander Helen Schneider said in a statement. Probe after two FBI agents shot dead The probe was launched in 2022 by the Australian federal elegancy after the FBI provided intelligence inputs to the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation about the individuals being part of a "peer-to-peer network allegedly sharing child abuse material on the dark web." The FBI was on the lookout for the paedophile group after two of its agents investigating the alleged ring were shot dead in 2021 while executing a search warrant for a computer programmer suspected of possession of child abuse material, reports CNN. Agents Daniel Alfin and Laura Schwartzenberger were found dead at a Sunrise, Florida apartment complex, while three other agents were wounded and the suspect in the shooting died at the scene. At the time, Miami FBI Special Agent in Charge George Piro called the shooting and the loss of Alfin and Schwartzenberger, “a very dark day for the FBI.” “This operation was highly complex,” the FBI’s legal attaché in Canberra, Nitiana Mann, told reporters Tuesday. “The complexity and anonymity of these platforms mean that no agency or country can fight these threats alone," he said, adding that further arrests might be on the cards. More than 200 international leads had been sent to partner countries and more than 300 investigations opened as a result of the joint operation, Mann said. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Around 100 arrested in global child abuse probe after murder of two FBI agents

Sixteen children, aged between 10 and 18, have been rescued in the Philippines after Australian police discovered sexually explicit material on the phone of a man arrested in Sydney. A joint global cooperation between the&nbsp;Australian Federal Police (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) led to the amazing rescue.&nbsp;

As per CNN, the PNP executed warrants at multiple locations in the Metro Manila area and a province in Northern Philippines, leading to the recovery of the abused children. The joint effort was aimed at combating child exploitation and abuse.

<h2>How the rescue unfolded</h2>

The investigation, as per CNN, began in January when the Australian Border Force intercepted a 56-year-old man from Queensland upon his return to Sydney from the Philippines.&nbsp;

An examination of the man's phone revealed child abuse material and messages outlining his intentions to engage in the sexual abuse of children in the Philippines.&nbsp;

The man was subsequently charged with grooming and possession of child abuse material, offences that carry a potential maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. However, he failed to appear for a scheduled court appearance on May 30, resulting in an arrest warrant being issued.

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<h2>Importance of international efforts in combating child abuse</h2>

"This case highlights how vital it is for law enforcement agencies to share intelligence and resources globally because predators are not confined by borders," said Detective Superintendent Andrew Perkins, the AFP's senior officer in Manila.

"However, these children’s lives have been irrecoverably damaged and we know there are too many other children still at risk," added the officer.

Efforts are ongoing to locate additional suspected victims, and the children rescued have been placed under the care of the Philippine Department of Social Welfare and Development.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bidens-approval-rating-plummets-to-new-low-as-trump-gains-momentum-612215">Biden’s approval rating plummets to new low as Trump gains momentum</a>

Police Colonel Portia Manalad, chief of the Philippine National Police Women and Children Protection Center, emphasised the necessity of international cooperation in combating such crimes and said that the PNP could not tackle this crime alone.&nbsp;

She highlighted the importance of collaboration with partners like the AFP to apprehend offenders and rescue child victims.&nbsp;"We must collaborate with our international partners, such as the AFP, to arrest offenders and rescue child victims."&nbsp;

The Philippine Internet Crimes Against Children Center (PICACC), established in 2019 through a joint effort involving the Philippines, Australia, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands, as per CNN, has played a pivotal role in combating child abuse.&nbsp;Since its inception, it has rescued 611 victims&nbsp;and apprehended 127 facilitators.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Sixteen children, aged between 10 and 18, have been rescued in the Philippines after Australian police discovered sexually explicit material on the phone of a man arrested in Sydney.

Sixteen children, aged between 10 and 18, have been rescued in the Philippines after Australian police discovered sexually explicit material on the phone of a man arrested in Sydney. A joint global cooperation between the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) led to the amazing rescue. As per CNN, the PNP executed warrants at multiple locations in the Metro Manila area and a province in Northern Philippines, leading to the recovery of the abused children. The joint effort was aimed at combating child exploitation and abuse. How the rescue unfolded The investigation, as per CNN, began in January when the Australian Border Force intercepted a 56-year-old man from Queensland upon his return to Sydney from the Philippines. An examination of the man's phone revealed child abuse material and messages outlining his intentions to engage in the sexual abuse of children in the Philippines. The man was subsequently charged with grooming and possession of child abuse material, offences that carry a potential maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. However, he failed to appear for a scheduled court appearance on May 30, resulting in an arrest warrant being issued. Also read | A paradigm shift? Massive phosphate deposit found in Norway, could meet global battery demand for 100 years Importance of international efforts in combating child abuse "This case highlights how vital it is for law enforcement agencies to share intelligence and resources globally because predators are not confined by borders," said Detective Superintendent Andrew Perkins, the AFP's senior officer in Manila. "However, these children’s lives have been irrecoverably damaged and we know there are too many other children still at risk," added the officer. Efforts are ongoing to locate additional suspected victims, and the children rescued have been placed under the care of the Philippine Department of Social Welfare and Development. Also read | Biden’s approval rating plummets to new low as Trump gains momentum Police Colonel Portia Manalad, chief of the Philippine National Police Women and Children Protection Center, emphasised the necessity of international cooperation in combating such crimes and said that the PNP could not tackle this crime alone. She highlighted the importance of collaboration with partners like the AFP to apprehend offenders and rescue child victims. "We must collaborate with our international partners, such as the AFP, to arrest offenders and rescue child victims." The Philippine Internet Crimes Against Children Center (PICACC), established in 2019 through a joint effort involving the Philippines, Australia, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands, as per CNN, has played a pivotal role in combating child abuse. Since its inception, it has rescued 611 victims and apprehended 127 facilitators. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

How discovery of explicit material on a phone in Sydney led to rescue  of 16 abused children in Philippines

The United Nations has put the Russian army and its armed groups on its “list of shame” for killing and maiming hundreds of children during its ongoing war in Ukraine, reported news agency AFP, on Thursday (June 22). The report seen by Reuters, says Russia killed at least 136 children in Ukraine last year and has since added Moscow’s forces to a global list of offenders.

<h2 dir="ltr">What was the report about?</h2>

The UN report, as per Reuters, said that at least 24,300 violations had been committed against children in 2022.&nbsp;

The annual report is about the treatment of children in conflict zones which is submitted to the 15-member UNSC and accounts attacks such as killing, maiming, sexual abuse, abduction or recruitment of children, denial of aid access and targeting of schools and hospitals.

The report was compiled by Virginia Gamba, United Nations chief Antonio Guterres’ special representative for children and armed conflict.&nbsp;

Notably, the so-called “list of shame” is intended to shame the parties involved in the conflict and hopes to push them to implement measures for protecting children during a war.&nbsp;

The report, in question, will be made public next week. It also reportedly noted most violations were in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories, Somalia, Syria, Ukraine, Afghanistan, Haiti and Yemen.&nbsp;

Guterres in the report said that “non-state armed groups” were responsible for 50 per cent of the “grave violations,” adding that “government forces were the main perpetrator of the killing and maiming of children, attacks on schools and hospitals, and the denial of humanitarian access,” as quoted by Reuters.

<h2>What did it find about Russia and Ukraine?</h2>

According to the UN report, Russian armed forces and affiliated groups in addition to killing over 100 children, also maimed 518 children and carried out 480 attacks on schools and hospitals, reported Reuters.&nbsp;

The Russian forces have also been accused of using 91 children as human shields. Last year, as per the document, a total of 477 were killed in Ukraine and 909 were maimed, as per AFP.&nbsp;

On the other hand, the report also shows that Ukrainian armed forces killed 80 children, maimed 175 children and carried out 212 attacks on schools and hospitals, as per Reuters, but has not made it to the so-called “list of shame”.&nbsp;

Notably, Gamba visited Kyiv and Moscow where she met with Russia’s envoy for children’s rights, Maria Lvova-Belova who is currently wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes charges along with Russian President Vladimir Putin.&nbsp;

This comes after the ICC issued an arrest warrant against them, earlier this year, for the illegal deportation of Ukrainian children and unlawful transfer of people from Ukraine to Russia since the beginning of the conflict over a year ago.

<h2>‘Particularly shocked…’: UN chief fumes over findings</h2>

In the document, as per reports, the UN chief said he is “appalled” by the high number of grave violations committed in Ukraine, last year. Guterres also said that he is “particularly disturbed” by such a number of offences committed against children by Ukrainian armed forces.&nbsp;

“I am particularly shocked by the high number of attacks on schools and hospitals and protected personnel, and by the high number of children killed and maimed attributed to the Russian forces and affiliated armed groups,” said Guterres about Russia, in the report, as quoted by AFP.&nbsp;

It is also worth noting that despite years of criticism and push by human rights organisations, Israel has not made it to the so-called list for killing dozens of Palestinian children. According to the UN report, Israeli forces killed 42 children last year, and 78 in 2021.&nbsp;

Addressing this the UN chief noted, a “meaningful decrease in the number of children killed by Israeli forces, including by air strikes.” “Nevertheless, I remain deeply concerned by the number of children killed and maimed by Israeli forces during hostilities,” Guterres said, as quoted by AFP. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
 
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The United Nations has put the Russian army and its armed groups on its “list of shame” for killing and maiming hundreds of children during its ongoing war in Ukraine, reported news agency AFP, on Thursday (June 22).

The United Nations has put the Russian army and its armed groups on its “list of shame” for killing and maiming hundreds of children during its ongoing war in Ukraine, reported news agency AFP, on Thursday (June 22). The report seen by Reuters, says Russia killed at least 136 children in Ukraine last year and has since added Moscow’s forces to a global list of offenders. What was the report about? The UN report, as per Reuters, said that at least 24,300 violations had been committed against children in 2022. The annual report is about the treatment of children in conflict zones which is submitted to the 15-member UNSC and accounts attacks such as killing, maiming, sexual abuse, abduction or recruitment of children, denial of aid access and targeting of schools and hospitals. The report was compiled by Virginia Gamba, United Nations chief Antonio Guterres’ special representative for children and armed conflict. Notably, the so-called “list of shame” is intended to shame the parties involved in the conflict and hopes to push them to implement measures for protecting children during a war. The report, in question, will be made public next week. It also reportedly noted most violations were in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories, Somalia, Syria, Ukraine, Afghanistan, Haiti and Yemen. Guterres in the report said that “non-state armed groups” were responsible for 50 per cent of the “grave violations,” adding that “government forces were the main perpetrator of the killing and maiming of children, attacks on schools and hospitals, and the denial of humanitarian access,” as quoted by Reuters. What did it find about Russia and Ukraine? According to the UN report, Russian armed forces and affiliated groups in addition to killing over 100 children, also maimed 518 children and carried out 480 attacks on schools and hospitals, reported Reuters. The Russian forces have also been accused of using 91 children as human shields. Last year, as per the document, a total of 477 were killed in Ukraine and 909 were maimed, as per AFP. On the other hand, the report also shows that Ukrainian armed forces killed 80 children, maimed 175 children and carried out 212 attacks on schools and hospitals, as per Reuters, but has not made it to the so-called “list of shame”. Notably, Gamba visited Kyiv and Moscow where she met with Russia’s envoy for children’s rights, Maria Lvova-Belova who is currently wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes charges along with Russian President Vladimir Putin. This comes after the ICC issued an arrest warrant against them, earlier this year, for the illegal deportation of Ukrainian children and unlawful transfer of people from Ukraine to Russia since the beginning of the conflict over a year ago. ‘Particularly shocked…’: UN chief fumes over findings In the document, as per reports, the UN chief said he is “appalled” by the high number of grave violations committed in Ukraine, last year. Guterres also said that he is “particularly disturbed” by such a number of offences committed against children by Ukrainian armed forces. “I am particularly shocked by the high number of attacks on schools and hospitals and protected personnel, and by the high number of children killed and maimed attributed to the Russian forces and affiliated armed groups,” said Guterres about Russia, in the report, as quoted by AFP. It is also worth noting that despite years of criticism and push by human rights organisations, Israel has not made it to the so-called list for killing dozens of Palestinian children. According to the UN report, Israeli forces killed 42 children last year, and 78 in 2021. Addressing this the UN chief noted, a “meaningful decrease in the number of children killed by Israeli forces, including by air strikes.” “Nevertheless, I remain deeply concerned by the number of children killed and maimed by Israeli forces during hostilities,” Guterres said, as quoted by AFP. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

UN adds Russia to its ‘list of shame’ over Ukraine war: Here’s why

The inspector-general of the US Federal Health and Human Services department, released a report on Thursday. It said the department often failed to perform required background checks on workers at emergency holding centers for migrant children who crossed the US-Mexico border in 2021. The I-G's report says, 200 workers did not have background checks for child abuse or neglect. Officials also found that 174 workers did not have FBI background checks. Further, checks against the justice department's sex offender registry were not performed on 42 workers. The report comes ahead of the expiration of title 42 on may 11.

Report: No background checks on 200 workers

Report: No background checks on 200 workers for child abuse

United Kingdom Home Secretary Suella Braverman, on Sunday (April 2), unveiled her plans to make failure to report child sexual abuse illegal for people who work with children in England. Additionally, in a series of interviews with UK-based media outlets, the Indian-origin minister while addressing the new laws also spoke about the culture of silence around British Pakistani male gangs involved in such crimes.

While the home secretary’s move is subject to consultation, it follows a recommendation made last year by the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) which had also described sexual abuse of children as an “epidemic that leaves tens of thousands of victims in its poisonous wake”.&nbsp;

The inquiry which lasted for nearly seven years into the institutional failings in England and Wales concluded that people in positions of trust should be compelled by law to report child sexual abuse. In line with this, Braverman has vowed to “right one of the greatest injustices seen in Britain in modern times”.

Additional details about the proposed policy by the home secretary are expected in the upcoming days. The home secretary also said how under this policy it will be made clear that anyone working with vulnerable groups and children in a safeguarding role, like teachers or social workers, “can’t get away with inaction”.&nbsp;

In a series of interviews, Braverman also said that the policy will target criminals who hold cultural attitudes that are incompatible with British values. She also spoke about how they have been left unchallenged within their communities out of political correctness and fear of being called racists.&nbsp;

“The perpetrators are groups of men, almost all British Pakistani, who hold cultural attitudes completely incompatible with British values,” said the home secretary to BBC. She added, “They have been left unchallenged both within their communities and by wider society, despite their activities being an open secret,” adding that there has been a “wilful turning of a blind eye, a failure to act and that silence has enabled this abuse”.&nbsp;

“What we've seen is a practice whereby vulnerable, white, English girls, sometimes in care, sometimes who are in challenging circumstances, being pursued and raped and drugged and harmed by gangs of British Pakistani&nbsp;men who've worked in child abuse rings or networks,” said Braverman, in an interview with Sky News.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
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United Kingdom Home Secretary Suella Braverman, on Sunday (April 2), unveiled her plans to make failure to report child sexual abuse illegal for people who work with children in England.

United Kingdom Home Secretary Suella Braverman, on Sunday (April 2), unveiled her plans to make failure to report child sexual abuse illegal for people who work with children in England. Additionally, in a series of interviews with UK-based media outlets, the Indian-origin minister while addressing the new laws also spoke about the culture of silence around British Pakistani male gangs involved in such crimes. While the home secretary’s move is subject to consultation, it follows a recommendation made last year by the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) which had also described sexual abuse of children as an “epidemic that leaves tens of thousands of victims in its poisonous wake”. The inquiry which lasted for nearly seven years into the institutional failings in England and Wales concluded that people in positions of trust should be compelled by law to report child sexual abuse. In line with this, Braverman has vowed to “right one of the greatest injustices seen in Britain in modern times”. Additional details about the proposed policy by the home secretary are expected in the upcoming days. The home secretary also said how under this policy it will be made clear that anyone working with vulnerable groups and children in a safeguarding role, like teachers or social workers, “can’t get away with inaction”. In a series of interviews, Braverman also said that the policy will target criminals who hold cultural attitudes that are incompatible with British values. She also spoke about how they have been left unchallenged within their communities out of political correctness and fear of being called racists. “The perpetrators are groups of men, almost all British Pakistani, who hold cultural attitudes completely incompatible with British values,” said the home secretary to BBC. She added, “They have been left unchallenged both within their communities and by wider society, despite their activities being an open secret,” adding that there has been a “wilful turning of a blind eye, a failure to act and that silence has enabled this abuse”. “What we've seen is a practice whereby vulnerable, white, English girls, sometimes in care, sometimes who are in challenging circumstances, being pursued and raped and drugged and harmed by gangs of British Pakistani men who've worked in child abuse rings or networks,” said Braverman, in an interview with Sky News. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

UK: Suella Braverman to make reporting child sexual abuse a legal duty; slams British Pakistani gangs

Barry Cable faces sexual assault charges:&nbsp;Australian Rules legend Barry Cable is grappling with child sexual abuse allegations. A Perth teenager accused Barry Cable of sexual abuse when he touched the peak of his career. Since then, the case has not been resolved because, until now, the District Court of Western Australia suppressed Barry Cable's identity.

The 79-year-old Australian football legend has denied the accusations. Moreover, the cops did not arrest him even once after the Perth teenager filed the allegations.&nbsp;

The woman, who remains anonymous, started the proceedings in 2019. She claimed that Barry Cable sexually assaulted her between 1968 and 1973. She was 12 years old in 1968. She has accused Barry Cable of psychiatric harm. The woman says she was subject to sexual harassment between 1974 and 1991.&nbsp;

However, Barry Cable's lawyers told the court that he was bankrupt. Thus, there were no funds if the judgement cost anything. In response, Australia's District Court Judge Mark Herron informed that Barry Cable won't participate in the upcoming five-day trial.&nbsp;

On Tuesday, February 7, Judge Herron lifted a series of suppression orders in the Barry Cable case. The civil trials will begin on Wednesday, February 8.

"In my view, the reasons and justification for making the orders anonymising the name of the defendant and suppressing the public reporting of the proceedings in a way which might tend to identify him, and the further order preventing a non-party from having access to court documents in the proceedings, are no longer relevant or necessary," Judge Herron said in a decision taken on Tuesday.

<h2>Barry Cable Family, Career &amp; Net Worth</h2>

Barry Cable has a wife named Helen. However, not much is known about her. From his marriage with Helen, he has two children. However, Barry Cable has not opened up much about his personal life and family.&nbsp;

Barry Cable, considered one of the greatest ever rovers, won two VFL premierships. He also has four WAFL titles in a 17-year career. Barry Cable took retirement in 1979.&nbsp;

Barry Cable has played 379 games across Perth and North Melbourne. He has a legendary status in the Australian Football Hall of Fame.&nbsp;

Barry Cable faces sexual assault charges: Australian Rules legend Barry Cable is grappling with child sexual abuse allegations. A Perth teenager accused Barry Cable of sexual abuse when he touched the peak of his career.

Barry Cable faces sexual assault charges: Australian Rules legend Barry Cable is grappling with child sexual abuse allegations. A Perth teenager accused Barry Cable of sexual abuse when he touched the peak of his career. Since then, the case has not been resolved because, until now, the District Court of Western Australia suppressed Barry Cable's identity. The 79-year-old Australian football legend has denied the accusations. Moreover, the cops did not arrest him even once after the Perth teenager filed the allegations. The woman, who remains anonymous, started the proceedings in 2019. She claimed that Barry Cable sexually assaulted her between 1968 and 1973. She was 12 years old in 1968. She has accused Barry Cable of psychiatric harm. The woman says she was subject to sexual harassment between 1974 and 1991. However, Barry Cable's lawyers told the court that he was bankrupt. Thus, there were no funds if the judgement cost anything. In response, Australia's District Court Judge Mark Herron informed that Barry Cable won't participate in the upcoming five-day trial. On Tuesday, February 7, Judge Herron lifted a series of suppression orders in the Barry Cable case. The civil trials will begin on Wednesday, February 8. "In my view, the reasons and justification for making the orders anonymising the name of the defendant and suppressing the public reporting of the proceedings in a way which might tend to identify him, and the further order preventing a non-party from having access to court documents in the proceedings, are no longer relevant or necessary," Judge Herron said in a decision taken on Tuesday. Barry Cable Family, Career & Net Worth Barry Cable has a wife named Helen. However, not much is known about her. From his marriage with Helen, he has two children. However, Barry Cable has not opened up much about his personal life and family. Barry Cable, considered one of the greatest ever rovers, won two VFL premierships. He also has four WAFL titles in a 17-year career. Barry Cable took retirement in 1979. Barry Cable has played 379 games across Perth and North Melbourne. He has a legendary status in the Australian Football Hall of Fame.

Australian Football legend Barry Cable sued over historical child sexual abuse claims

The Catholic Jesuit order, of which Pope Francis is a member, has been rocked by claims a prominent priest abused several women, a case raising questions about how the Church sanctions offenders.

Catholic Jesuit order hit by priest abuse scandal

Eleven former French bishops have been accused of sexual abuse, the French bishops’ conference said Monday. Watch full video to know more.

11 French bishops accused of sexual abuse

Many nations and cultures hold teachers in the highest regard, with the relationship between them and their students being compared to that of God and his devotees. However, what would you do if you witness the same revered person being "creepy" toward you or your classmates?

Some people voice complaints, while others remain silent, however, some students from Rhode Island, United States, decided to do something about it and started a "pedo database".

Watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: Sexual abuse 'normalised' in U.K. schools

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Sixth graders at Davisville Middle School considered their teacher Aaron Thomas a "creep" after observing him leering at a few female students, calling them by nicknames, and even pushing them to dance for him. All this, while he treated the "boys with contempt, and sometimes cruelty" reports Boston Globe.

They tried talking to adults about what they witnessed, but no one took them seriously and all this while they would see the girls in their class struggle to deal with the teacher's behaviour.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/peru-seeks-to-punish-paedophile-rapists-with-chemical-castration-472721">Peru seeks to punish paedophile rapists with chemical castration</a>

The teacher reportedly even told the students that no one could do anything to him and that he had withstood the parents' complaints for almost 30 years.&nbsp;

So, the students started keeping a log of all his creepy comments, and this "pedo database" is now part of an investigation into the&nbsp;teacher.

In an interview with the Boston Globe, one of the boys talked about how he and his buddies started their "Pedo Database" in January 2021 to keep tabs on the teacher's actions and words.&nbsp;

Talking about the girls and what they were going through he said, “Sometimes they’d laugh. Sometimes they just kind of just sit there awkwardly.”&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/google-accuses-us-father-of-child-sex-abuse-for-clicking-pictures-of-an-infection-on-toddlers-genitals-509367">Google accuses US father of 'child sex abuse' for clicking pictures of an infection on toddler's genitals</a>

“Even the ones that said he was ‘creepy’ laughed, because they were obviously not trying to tick him off or anything. So they’re just fake laughing, awkwardly laughing,” he recalled.&nbsp;

On January 5, 2021, the boys who were now in the seventh grade started a subchannel on discord which they named after the alleged paedophile teacher, called it a "pedo database" and started using it as a platform to keep records of "the [teacher’s] pedo moments and quotes here so we can get evidence."

In April 2022, the teacher who also served as the coach was escorted out of the school after a girl and her family accused him of&nbsp;conducting naked “fat tests” on teenage athletes.&nbsp;And then, in late April 2022, the teacher was escorted out of the middle school.

When the boys learned that people had been asked to come forward with information, they informed their parents of their "Pedo Database".

It is now in the hands of the US attorney's Office, the state Department of Children, Youth, and Families, the state Department of Education, and attorney Matthew Oliverio, who is leading the school's internal investigation.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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Many nations and cultures hold teachers in the highest regard, with the relationship between them and their students being compared to that of God and his devotees.

Many nations and cultures hold teachers in the highest regard, with the relationship between them and their students being compared to that of God and his devotees. However, what would you do if you witness the same revered person being "creepy" toward you or your classmates? Some people voice complaints, while others remain silent, however, some students from Rhode Island, United States, decided to do something about it and started a "pedo database". Watch | Gravitas: Sexual abuse 'normalised' in U.K. schools Sixth graders at Davisville Middle School considered their teacher Aaron Thomas a "creep" after observing him leering at a few female students, calling them by nicknames, and even pushing them to dance for him. All this, while he treated the "boys with contempt, and sometimes cruelty" reports Boston Globe. They tried talking to adults about what they witnessed, but no one took them seriously and all this while they would see the girls in their class struggle to deal with the teacher's behaviour. Also read | Peru seeks to punish paedophile rapists with chemical castration The teacher reportedly even told the students that no one could do anything to him and that he had withstood the parents' complaints for almost 30 years. So, the students started keeping a log of all his creepy comments, and this "pedo database" is now part of an investigation into the teacher. In an interview with the Boston Globe, one of the boys talked about how he and his buddies started their "Pedo Database" in January 2021 to keep tabs on the teacher's actions and words. Talking about the girls and what they were going through he said, “Sometimes they’d laugh. Sometimes they just kind of just sit there awkwardly.” Also read | Google accuses US father of 'child sex abuse' for clicking pictures of an infection on toddler's genitals “Even the ones that said he was ‘creepy’ laughed, because they were obviously not trying to tick him off or anything. So they’re just fake laughing, awkwardly laughing,” he recalled. On January 5, 2021, the boys who were now in the seventh grade started a subchannel on discord which they named after the alleged paedophile teacher, called it a "pedo database" and started using it as a platform to keep records of "the [teacher’s] pedo moments and quotes here so we can get evidence." In April 2022, the teacher who also served as the coach was escorted out of the school after a girl and her family accused him of conducting naked “fat tests” on teenage athletes. And then, in late April 2022, the teacher was escorted out of the middle school. When the boys learned that people had been asked to come forward with information, they informed their parents of their "Pedo Database". It is now in the hands of the US attorney's Office, the state Department of Children, Youth, and Families, the state Department of Education, and attorney Matthew Oliverio, who is leading the school's internal investigation. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Sixth graders see teacher being 'creepy', create a 'pedo database' that is now being used in an investigation

Can Artificial Intelligence ever truly replace human discretion? This question has for long been a topic of debate and now, an incident involving a parent, his child, and some photographs taken for medical reasons has once more brought the matter into focus.

Google uses an automated tool to flag abusive images of children.&nbsp;While the system clearly has its advantages, it may also go wrong and have severe consequences for the individuals involved.

In one such example, which the New York Times broke first, a stay-at-home father in San Francisco is under police investigation after taking images and recordings of an infection on his son's genitalia.

Watch |&nbsp;Futuristic airports around the world | Tech It Out

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The man, who has only been identified by his first name, noticed that his toddler's penis was causing him pain and looked swollen. Mark used his phone to click pictures for online consultation with the doctor.

While the infection soon went away thanks to antibiotics prescribed based on those pictures, Mark's troubles did not.

Mark and his wife used the phone and their service provider Google to upload the images to their healthcare provider's messaging system and soon after received a notification that his Google account has been blocked because of “harmful content” that was “a severe violation of Google’s policies and might be illegal.”

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/how-does-google-make-money-479751">How does Google make money?</a>

While the particular reason was not provided, the list of possible reasons why this may have happened did have “child sexual abuse &amp; exploitation.”

Puzzled, the couple recalled the pictures in question and contacted Google to clear up the issue. However, the big tech firm refused to reinstate his account and in a statement said, “Child sexual abuse material is abhorrent and we’re committed to preventing the spread of it on our platforms.”

The San Francisco Police Department investigation was headed by Nicholas Hillard, who upon investigating concluded: "that no crime occurred".

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/brazil-elections-da-silva-calls-jair-bolsonaro-a-cheap-copy-of-donald-trump-509345">Brazil elections: Da Silva calls Jair Bolsonaro a 'cheap copy' of Donald Trump</a>

However, in spite of Mark submitting the police report to Google, the tech giant has decided to permanently delete his account. The move is costing the stay-at-home dad a lot of data and almost all of his digital presence. &nbsp;

In a similar case in Texas, another father Cassio had a similar thing happen to me.

As per the report, these two cases are only a drop in the bucket.&nbsp;Technology behemoths identify millions of images of sexually abusing or exploiting youngsters each year. Google alone reported child abuse content in excess of 600,000 times in 2021, leading to the account suspension of over 270,000 users.

(With inputs from agencies)

Watch WION LIVE HERE:

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You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

Can Artificial Intelligence ever truly replace human discretion? This question has for long been a topic of debate and now, an incident involving a parent, his child, and some photographs taken for medical reasons has once more brought the matter into focus.

Can Artificial Intelligence ever truly replace human discretion? This question has for long been a topic of debate and now, an incident involving a parent, his child, and some photographs taken for medical reasons has once more brought the matter into focus. Google uses an automated tool to flag abusive images of children. While the system clearly has its advantages, it may also go wrong and have severe consequences for the individuals involved. In one such example, which the New York Times broke first, a stay-at-home father in San Francisco is under police investigation after taking images and recordings of an infection on his son's genitalia. Watch | Futuristic airports around the world | Tech It Out The man, who has only been identified by his first name, noticed that his toddler's penis was causing him pain and looked swollen. Mark used his phone to click pictures for online consultation with the doctor. While the infection soon went away thanks to antibiotics prescribed based on those pictures, Mark's troubles did not. Mark and his wife used the phone and their service provider Google to upload the images to their healthcare provider's messaging system and soon after received a notification that his Google account has been blocked because of “harmful content” that was “a severe violation of Google’s policies and might be illegal.” Also read | How does Google make money? While the particular reason was not provided, the list of possible reasons why this may have happened did have “child sexual abuse & exploitation.” Puzzled, the couple recalled the pictures in question and contacted Google to clear up the issue. However, the big tech firm refused to reinstate his account and in a statement said, “Child sexual abuse material is abhorrent and we’re committed to preventing the spread of it on our platforms.” The San Francisco Police Department investigation was headed by Nicholas Hillard, who upon investigating concluded: "that no crime occurred". Also read | Brazil elections: Da Silva calls Jair Bolsonaro a 'cheap copy' of Donald Trump However, in spite of Mark submitting the police report to Google, the tech giant has decided to permanently delete his account. The move is costing the stay-at-home dad a lot of data and almost all of his digital presence. In a similar case in Texas, another father Cassio had a similar thing happen to me. As per the report, these two cases are only a drop in the bucket. Technology behemoths identify millions of images of sexually abusing or exploiting youngsters each year. Google alone reported child abuse content in excess of 600,000 times in 2021, leading to the account suspension of over 270,000 users. (With inputs from agencies) Watch WION LIVE HERE: You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Google accuses US father of 'child sex abuse' for clicking pictures of an infection on toddler's genitals

Former gymnast Nicole Pavier said British athletes were subjected to "child abuse" and that the findings of an independent review showed physical and mental mistreatment at clubs was more widespread than first thought.

The review, led by Anne Whyte QC, was commissioned by UK Sport and Sport England in August 2020 following allegations of mistreatment within the sport in Britain. The report found that British gymnastics suffered from a cultural problem where young athletes were shamed for their weight while others were handed harsh punishments for the slightest mistakes in training.

British Gymnastics, the sport`s governing body in the UK, said that it was committed to changing the sport for the better and apologised to the athletes who came forward. "This isn`t tough coaching and slight mistreatment, this is child abuse of athletes at a very young age," Pavier told the BBC. "That has a monumental impact on the rest of our lives from a physical and mental perspective.

"This (report) is showing that it`s not just a few bad apples, which we had been led to believe, and actually by using our voices we now know that there is a culture of abuse and these are children being abused in clubs and there are a large amount of them." Gymnasts for Change, a group that campaigns for an "abuse-free future", said the recommendations of the report "fall far short of what is needed".

"We call on British Gymnastics to implement a new maximum limit on training hours for child athletes," it said in a statement. British athletes have won 15 medals in gymnastics since the 2008 Beijing Games, having previously made the Olympic podium only three times.

Former gymnast Nicole Pavier said British athletes were subjected to "child abuse" and that the findings of an independent review showed physical and mental mistreatment at clubs was more widespread than first thought.

Former gymnast Nicole Pavier said British athletes were subjected to "child abuse" and that the findings of an independent review showed physical and mental mistreatment at clubs was more widespread than first thought. The review, led by Anne Whyte QC, was commissioned by UK Sport and Sport England in August 2020 following allegations of mistreatment within the sport in Britain. The report found that British gymnastics suffered from a cultural problem where young athletes were shamed for their weight while others were handed harsh punishments for the slightest mistakes in training. British Gymnastics, the sport`s governing body in the UK, said that it was committed to changing the sport for the better and apologised to the athletes who came forward. "This isn`t tough coaching and slight mistreatment, this is child abuse of athletes at a very young age," Pavier told the BBC. "That has a monumental impact on the rest of our lives from a physical and mental perspective. "This (report) is showing that it`s not just a few bad apples, which we had been led to believe, and actually by using our voices we now know that there is a culture of abuse and these are children being abused in clubs and there are a large amount of them." Gymnasts for Change, a group that campaigns for an "abuse-free future", said the recommendations of the report "fall far short of what is needed". "We call on British Gymnastics to implement a new maximum limit on training hours for child athletes," it said in a statement. British athletes have won 15 medals in gymnastics since the 2008 Beijing Games, having previously made the Olympic podium only three times.

British athletes subjected to 'child abuse', reveals ex-gymnast Nicole Pavier

Jeffery Younger fought for years with his ex-wife, a pediatrician, over the gender identity of one of their twins. While she followed the advice of their children’s doctor to affirm the child’s desire to dress as a girl, grow long hair and be known as Luna, Younger steadfastly objected.

He resisted the new name, insisting instead on boys’ clothes, short haircuts and the name the couple had chosen at birth.

What began in a single household in a small community outside Dallas became a very public custody battle between Younger and Dr. Anne Georgulas, transforming him into a folk hero among conservatives and amplifying a growing effort to roll back transgender protections in statehouses across America.

It paved the way, too, for an order late last month by Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas to investigate parents for child abuse if they provide certain medical treatments to their transgender children.

The abuse investigations ordered by Abbott, the first of their kind, represent the peak of a new round of action in state capitals aimed at transgender Americans, the most significant push by groups opposed to transgender rights since the national campaign to limit bathroom access foundered in 2017 and 2018. On Tuesday, a bill passed the Idaho House that would make medical treatments for transgender youth a felony, punishable by life in prison.

But few predicted that it would go as far as it has in Texas. The directive by Abbott very quickly resulted in investigations by the Department of Family and Protective Services, prompted a major Houston hospital to restrict its care for transgender children and raised fears among civil rights advocates of copycat efforts in other states. President Joe Biden has condemned the action and asked federal authorities to step in if cases of discrimination arise.

“This is actually the first time that they’ve succeeded in getting something that looks like a success,” said Kasey Suffredini, the CEO of Freedom for All Americans, a national gay and transgender rights group. “It’s incredibly painful. It is devastating.”

A court battle is underway to stop the investigations across Texas, with a hearing scheduled for Friday.

The fight over transgender issues, waged on several fronts in recent years, has increasingly focused on medical treatments for children.

Major medical groups — along with transgender advocates — back what is known as gender-affirming care, which involves supporting a child’s gender identity and social transition, often through clothes or a name. Such care can also eventually include puberty blockers or hormone treatments, though surgery is not recommended for children. While acknowledging some uncertainty and risk, they cite evidence that the approach can improve children’s mental health and reduce suicide.

Opponents — including some large conservative organizations — argue that children are too young to decide for themselves and must be shielded from potentially life-altering treatments that have only recently gained broader acceptance among the medical community.

Those at the center of the conservative push for new state laws include a coalition of familiar groups — the Heritage Foundation, Family Policy Alliance and Alliance Defending Freedom — that came together in the last two years.

Then last month, a newer player on the right, American Principles Project, took up the cause in Texas, spending more than $600,000 to run a series of highly produced ads on cable television featuring the case of Younger, who has become an outspoken supporter of restrictive legislation on transgender issues. The ads directly targeted Abbott during a hard-fought Republican primary, accusing the governor of not taking steps to “protect our children.”

By that point, Younger, 57, had testified repeatedly at the Capitol in Austin on measures to restrict transgender medical treatments. After the bills failed, he entered the Republican primary for an open seat in the Texas House of Representatives.

Last week, Younger came in second place, qualifying for the May runoff.

For conservative activists, the legislative push has been part of a broader national struggle over social issues, including legislation in Florida to ban teaching about gender identity in schools. Some of the same activists who defend the rights of parents in battles over school curriculum argue that, on the question of transgender treatment, children need protection from their own parents.

“Parents make all sorts of decisions with their kids,” said Craig DeRoche, the CEO of the Family Policy Alliance, part of the coalition helping legislators draft new transgender laws. “And as a community, we chime in as to which decisions should or shouldn’t be available to parents.”

But for many families in Texas, the threat of an investigation by the state has introduced new fears into an already challenging set of medical decisions. Children now worry that classmates or teachers could report their parents for possible abuse. Some families have taken steps to leave the state.

“We’re kind of looking over our shoulder a little bit,” said Autumn Tupper, 43, of Frisco, Texas, a Dallas suburb. Because of the governor’s directive, her son, Orion, 17, who came out as transgender over the past year, decided to delay gender-affirming hormone treatment until he turns 18 this summer.

The deeper roots of the current fight over transgender rights in Texas can be traced to a 2015 battle in Houston over a local anti-discrimination ordinance, which would have applied to a range of protected classes, including race, age and gender identity.

Opponents rallied around the notion that the bill would put women in danger by allowing men to enter women’s bathrooms, dubbing it the “bathroom ordinance.” Its defeat helped clear the way for a national conservative push to enact so-called bathroom bills aimed at transgender people.

But the bathroom effort stumbled. The one measure that passed, in North Carolina, was later repealed. In Texas, many social conservatives were angered at the state’s failure to pass such a law.

“This issue is not going to go away,” Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, a firebrand former talk radio host, said at the time, in 2017.

By the next year, the custody case between Younger and Georgulas, in the Dallas suburb of Coppell, began to attract notice in conservative circles.

There have been other such cases of parents fighting over the gender identity of their children. But Younger sought attention with a website and a campaign that featured the birth name of his child. Among the first articles on the case appeared in The Federalist in 2018. Younger sat for many interviews, including with Infowars.

“You cannot understand the political situation in Texas without understanding my political advocacy,” Younger said in a 16-minute call with The New York Times in which he refused to answer questions. “You work for an evil and wicked organization,” he said. “I think you’ll use accuracy against my own values.”

A lawyer for Georgulas declined a request for comment, citing a gag order put in place by the judge in the case.

The couple fought bitterly in court for years. Their marriage was annulled by a court on the grounds of fraud by Younger, who had misrepresented his employment and marital history.

In court transcripts, Georgulas said she had followed the lead of her transgender child, who is now 9, and the determinations of doctors. She has denied forcing her child to identify as a girl as Younger has claimed. She has not provided any puberty blockers or hormones, though she supports their use, if recommended. She filled out intake papers for Genecis, a Dallas clinic specializing in transgender care, but had not yet begun treatment when it shut down last year amid pressure from Abbott.

“Everything that she did was on the basis of professional guidance,” said Karen Hirsch, a friend of Georgulas’s.

A court in August gave Georgulas custody of the children, including control of all medical decisions and the sole right “to make decisions concerning the children’s haircuts.” But it barred her from providing any puberty-blocking drugs, hormones or surgery without a court order.

The case’s growing public profile coincided with broadening medical acceptance of gender-affirming care — and a backlash. The American Academy of Pediatrics in 2018 issued its first policy statement on the approach, which urges parents to support the identity expressed by their child and provides guidance for treatment, including medications that delay puberty.

In 2019, the Heritage Foundation, along with the Family Policy Alliance, hosted discussions in Washington on transgender athletes and transgender children, including a panel on the “medical harms” of hormonal and surgical interventions. The groups formed a coalition, known as Promise to America’s Children, and pressed for new laws.

Soon, bills were introduced on restricting transgender athletes and, in more than 20 states, legislatures considered prohibitions on gender-affirming medical care, including in Texas last year.

The bill, which passed in the Senate, failed in the House. And although a measure further restricting transgender athletes passed, some Texas conservatives were angry that the medical treatment bill had stalled.

The governor took note. Then the attorney general, Ken Paxton, facing a tough primary fight, issued an opinion that puberty-blocking drugs or hormone treatments could be considered child abuse under existing law in Texas.

Abbott, who was facing his own primary in days amid a barrage of American Principles Project ads, quickly directed the child protection agency to begin investigations. Among the first to be investigated was an employee of the agency.

The investigation was temporarily halted by a court in Austin last week.

“People don’t understand the treatment; they think it’s always surgery and it’s happening on children,” said Chase Strangio, deputy director for transgender justice at the American Civil Liberties Union, which sued to stop the investigations along with Lambda Legal. Opponents, he added, have been “weaponizing the confusion.”

Abbott’s office did not respond to a request for comment. But his top campaign strategist told reporters last week that the issue of “genital mutilation” was a political winner.

“There’s this sense, especially among conservatives, that they’re losing their country,” said Terry Schilling, president of the American Principles Project. “It was just a few years ago that we were debating gay marriage, and now we’re debating sex changes for minors. I mean, that’s exponential movement in terms of culture.”

Jeffery Younger fought for years with his ex-wife, a pediatrician, over the gender identity of one of their twins. While she followed the advice of their children’s doctor to affirm the child’s desire to dress as a girl, grow long hair and be known as Luna, Younger steadfastly objected.

Jeffery Younger fought for years with his ex-wife, a pediatrician, over the gender identity of one of their twins. While she followed the advice of their children’s doctor to affirm the child’s desire to dress as a girl, grow long hair and be known as Luna, Younger steadfastly objected. He resisted the new name, insisting instead on boys’ clothes, short haircuts and the name the couple had chosen at birth. What began in a single household in a small community outside Dallas became a very public custody battle between Younger and Dr. Anne Georgulas, transforming him into a folk hero among conservatives and amplifying a growing effort to roll back transgender protections in statehouses across America. It paved the way, too, for an order late last month by Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas to investigate parents for child abuse if they provide certain medical treatments to their transgender children. The abuse investigations ordered by Abbott, the first of their kind, represent the peak of a new round of action in state capitals aimed at transgender Americans, the most significant push by groups opposed to transgender rights since the national campaign to limit bathroom access foundered in 2017 and 2018. On Tuesday, a bill passed the Idaho House that would make medical treatments for transgender youth a felony, punishable by life in prison. But few predicted that it would go as far as it has in Texas. The directive by Abbott very quickly resulted in investigations by the Department of Family and Protective Services, prompted a major Houston hospital to restrict its care for transgender children and raised fears among civil rights advocates of copycat efforts in other states. President Joe Biden has condemned the action and asked federal authorities to step in if cases of discrimination arise. “This is actually the first time that they’ve succeeded in getting something that looks like a success,” said Kasey Suffredini, the CEO of Freedom for All Americans, a national gay and transgender rights group. “It’s incredibly painful. It is devastating.” A court battle is underway to stop the investigations across Texas, with a hearing scheduled for Friday. The fight over transgender issues, waged on several fronts in recent years, has increasingly focused on medical treatments for children. Major medical groups — along with transgender advocates — back what is known as gender-affirming care, which involves supporting a child’s gender identity and social transition, often through clothes or a name. Such care can also eventually include puberty blockers or hormone treatments, though surgery is not recommended for children. While acknowledging some uncertainty and risk, they cite evidence that the approach can improve children’s mental health and reduce suicide. Opponents — including some large conservative organizations — argue that children are too young to decide for themselves and must be shielded from potentially life-altering treatments that have only recently gained broader acceptance among the medical community. Those at the center of the conservative push for new state laws include a coalition of familiar groups — the Heritage Foundation, Family Policy Alliance and Alliance Defending Freedom — that came together in the last two years. Then last month, a newer player on the right, American Principles Project, took up the cause in Texas, spending more than $600,000 to run a series of highly produced ads on cable television featuring the case of Younger, who has become an outspoken supporter of restrictive legislation on transgender issues. The ads directly targeted Abbott during a hard-fought Republican primary, accusing the governor of not taking steps to “protect our children.” By that point, Younger, 57, had testified repeatedly at the Capitol in Austin on measures to restrict transgender medical treatments. After the bills failed, he entered the Republican primary for an open seat in the Texas House of Representatives. Last week, Younger came in second place, qualifying for the May runoff. For conservative activists, the legislative push has been part of a broader national struggle over social issues, including legislation in Florida to ban teaching about gender identity in schools. Some of the same activists who defend the rights of parents in battles over school curriculum argue that, on the question of transgender treatment, children need protection from their own parents. “Parents make all sorts of decisions with their kids,” said Craig DeRoche, the CEO of the Family Policy Alliance, part of the coalition helping legislators draft new transgender laws. “And as a community, we chime in as to which decisions should or shouldn’t be available to parents.” But for many families in Texas, the threat of an investigation by the state has introduced new fears into an already challenging set of medical decisions. Children now worry that classmates or teachers could report their parents for possible abuse. Some families have taken steps to leave the state. “We’re kind of looking over our shoulder a little bit,” said Autumn Tupper, 43, of Frisco, Texas, a Dallas suburb. Because of the governor’s directive, her son, Orion, 17, who came out as transgender over the past year, decided to delay gender-affirming hormone treatment until he turns 18 this summer. The deeper roots of the current fight over transgender rights in Texas can be traced to a 2015 battle in Houston over a local anti-discrimination ordinance, which would have applied to a range of protected classes, including race, age and gender identity. Opponents rallied around the notion that the bill would put women in danger by allowing men to enter women’s bathrooms, dubbing it the “bathroom ordinance.” Its defeat helped clear the way for a national conservative push to enact so-called bathroom bills aimed at transgender people. But the bathroom effort stumbled. The one measure that passed, in North Carolina, was later repealed. In Texas, many social conservatives were angered at the state’s failure to pass such a law. “This issue is not going to go away,” Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, a firebrand former talk radio host, said at the time, in 2017. By the next year, the custody case between Younger and Georgulas, in the Dallas suburb of Coppell, began to attract notice in conservative circles. There have been other such cases of parents fighting over the gender identity of their children. But Younger sought attention with a website and a campaign that featured the birth name of his child. Among the first articles on the case appeared in The Federalist in 2018. Younger sat for many interviews, including with Infowars. “You cannot understand the political situation in Texas without understanding my political advocacy,” Younger said in a 16-minute call with The New York Times in which he refused to answer questions. “You work for an evil and wicked organization,” he said. “I think you’ll use accuracy against my own values.” A lawyer for Georgulas declined a request for comment, citing a gag order put in place by the judge in the case. The couple fought bitterly in court for years. Their marriage was annulled by a court on the grounds of fraud by Younger, who had misrepresented his employment and marital history. In court transcripts, Georgulas said she had followed the lead of her transgender child, who is now 9, and the determinations of doctors. She has denied forcing her child to identify as a girl as Younger has claimed. She has not provided any puberty blockers or hormones, though she supports their use, if recommended. She filled out intake papers for Genecis, a Dallas clinic specializing in transgender care, but had not yet begun treatment when it shut down last year amid pressure from Abbott. “Everything that she did was on the basis of professional guidance,” said Karen Hirsch, a friend of Georgulas’s. A court in August gave Georgulas custody of the children, including control of all medical decisions and the sole right “to make decisions concerning the children’s haircuts.” But it barred her from providing any puberty-blocking drugs, hormones or surgery without a court order. The case’s growing public profile coincided with broadening medical acceptance of gender-affirming care — and a backlash. The American Academy of Pediatrics in 2018 issued its first policy statement on the approach, which urges parents to support the identity expressed by their child and provides guidance for treatment, including medications that delay puberty. In 2019, the Heritage Foundation, along with the Family Policy Alliance, hosted discussions in Washington on transgender athletes and transgender children, including a panel on the “medical harms” of hormonal and surgical interventions. The groups formed a coalition, known as Promise to America’s Children, and pressed for new laws. Soon, bills were introduced on restricting transgender athletes and, in more than 20 states, legislatures considered prohibitions on gender-affirming medical care, including in Texas last year. The bill, which passed in the Senate, failed in the House. And although a measure further restricting transgender athletes passed, some Texas conservatives were angry that the medical treatment bill had stalled. The governor took note. Then the attorney general, Ken Paxton, facing a tough primary fight, issued an opinion that puberty-blocking drugs or hormone treatments could be considered child abuse under existing law in Texas. Abbott, who was facing his own primary in days amid a barrage of American Principles Project ads, quickly directed the child protection agency to begin investigations. Among the first to be investigated was an employee of the agency. The investigation was temporarily halted by a court in Austin last week. “People don’t understand the treatment; they think it’s always surgery and it’s happening on children,” said Chase Strangio, deputy director for transgender justice at the American Civil Liberties Union, which sued to stop the investigations along with Lambda Legal. Opponents, he added, have been “weaponizing the confusion.” Abbott’s office did not respond to a request for comment. But his top campaign strategist told reporters last week that the issue of “genital mutilation” was a political winner. “There’s this sense, especially among conservatives, that they’re losing their country,” said Terry Schilling, president of the American Principles Project. “It was just a few years ago that we were debating gay marriage, and now we’re debating sex changes for minors. I mean, that’s exponential movement in terms of culture.”

How medical care for transgender youth became 'child abuse' in Texas

A two-year investigation led by authorities in New Zealand has resulted in the arrests of hundreds of people around the globe on charges of possessing and sharing child sexual abuse material, officials said Wednesday. Dozens of children were moved out of harm’s way as a result, authorities said.

The investigation, the largest of its kind led out of New Zealand, found secret global networks that shared child sexual abuse images on a wide scale. In some cases, the pandemic provided cover for the illegal activity, as lockdowns kept children isolated at home and predators took to the web in search of victims, a British official said.

The investigation, called Operation H, involved 12 countries and began in 2019, after an unnamed online service provider reported that its platform was being used to share horrific images of child sexual abuse. About 90,000 accounts were linked to the activity.

That led to the discovery of 32 gigabytes of files, some of which included “sadistic acts of sexual abuse of infants and children,” according to a statement from the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation, known as Europol.

Since then, at least 836 cases have been opened internationally, with more than 100 suspects identified across the European Union alone. Those arrested included 47 people in Canada, 43 in New Zealand and hundreds in Britain. In Australia, the police charged 121 men with 1,248 total offenses.

“This operation will have an impact on the global networks that deal in the most horrific and damaging material, and we are extraordinarily proud of the effect it will have on children’s lives around the world,” said Tim Houston, who led the operation at the Department of Internal Affairs in New Zealand.

The distribution of these images could create significant additional harm, Houston added.

“Many people who view material of this kind will go on to physically offend against children,” he said. “This is not a victimless crime; every time this material is viewed, that child is revictimized.”

Last year was the worst on record for the distribution of child sexual abuse images online, according to the Internet Watch Foundation, a charity based in England. In 2021, the foundation identified more than 250,000 instances of online images that featured children being sexually abused, an increase of almost 100,000, or nearly 70%, compared with images discovered in 2020.

The investigation began in New Zealand, but it brought together security agencies in Australia, Austria, Britain, Canada, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Slovenia, Spain and the United States. Interpol also joined the case.

The inquiry resulted in the rescue of 146 children, including six in New Zealand and 79 in Britain. In Australia, 51 children across six states were moved to safety, including 23 in Queensland and 10 in South Australia.

In one case each in Austria and Hungary, the suspects were accused of abusing their own children, who were 6 and 8 years old. And in Spain, a suspect both possessed and disseminated material about child sexual exploitation while making covert sexual images of adults without their consent, officials said.

In some cases, those arrested on charges of possessing the material were later charged with more serious offenses. One unidentified offender in the South Island of New Zealand later admitted to “consuming child exploitation material for over 20 years as well as other forms of harmful material such as bestiality and torture bondage,” according to New Zealand authorities.

The offender had traveled to Asia and paid families there to create images of their children being sexually abused for financial gain, the investigation found.

“Although the offender denied engaging in sexual exploitation while abroad, it is likely from the information obtained that they were a sex tourist,” a spokesman at the Department of Internal Affairs in New Zealand said.

In Britain, officers from the National Crime Agency arrested 450 people on charges of using the platform, and those detentions often brought additional charges.

“Much of this activity took place during the COVID-19 lockdowns, when the majority of young people were at home and offenders had more time to spend online targeting their victims,” said Sarah Blight, a spokeswoman for the agency.

The agency found a pattern of offenders working in “positions of trust,” including at kindergartens and primary schools, in health care professions, as religious clergy or within law enforcement. One suspect, who worked as a night support worker in a children’s home, had hundreds of indecent images of children on his phone, officials said.

A two-year investigation led by authorities in New Zealand has resulted in the arrests of hundreds of people around the globe on charges of possessing and sharing child sexual abuse material, officials said Wednesday.

A two-year investigation led by authorities in New Zealand has resulted in the arrests of hundreds of people around the globe on charges of possessing and sharing child sexual abuse material, officials said Wednesday. Dozens of children were moved out of harm’s way as a result, authorities said. The investigation, the largest of its kind led out of New Zealand, found secret global networks that shared child sexual abuse images on a wide scale. In some cases, the pandemic provided cover for the illegal activity, as lockdowns kept children isolated at home and predators took to the web in search of victims, a British official said. The investigation, called Operation H, involved 12 countries and began in 2019, after an unnamed online service provider reported that its platform was being used to share horrific images of child sexual abuse. About 90,000 accounts were linked to the activity. That led to the discovery of 32 gigabytes of files, some of which included “sadistic acts of sexual abuse of infants and children,” according to a statement from the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation, known as Europol. Since then, at least 836 cases have been opened internationally, with more than 100 suspects identified across the European Union alone. Those arrested included 47 people in Canada, 43 in New Zealand and hundreds in Britain. In Australia, the police charged 121 men with 1,248 total offenses. “This operation will have an impact on the global networks that deal in the most horrific and damaging material, and we are extraordinarily proud of the effect it will have on children’s lives around the world,” said Tim Houston, who led the operation at the Department of Internal Affairs in New Zealand. The distribution of these images could create significant additional harm, Houston added. “Many people who view material of this kind will go on to physically offend against children,” he said. “This is not a victimless crime; every time this material is viewed, that child is revictimized.” Last year was the worst on record for the distribution of child sexual abuse images online, according to the Internet Watch Foundation, a charity based in England. In 2021, the foundation identified more than 250,000 instances of online images that featured children being sexually abused, an increase of almost 100,000, or nearly 70%, compared with images discovered in 2020. The investigation began in New Zealand, but it brought together security agencies in Australia, Austria, Britain, Canada, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Slovenia, Spain and the United States. Interpol also joined the case. The inquiry resulted in the rescue of 146 children, including six in New Zealand and 79 in Britain. In Australia, 51 children across six states were moved to safety, including 23 in Queensland and 10 in South Australia. In one case each in Austria and Hungary, the suspects were accused of abusing their own children, who were 6 and 8 years old. And in Spain, a suspect both possessed and disseminated material about child sexual exploitation while making covert sexual images of adults without their consent, officials said. In some cases, those arrested on charges of possessing the material were later charged with more serious offenses. One unidentified offender in the South Island of New Zealand later admitted to “consuming child exploitation material for over 20 years as well as other forms of harmful material such as bestiality and torture bondage,” according to New Zealand authorities. The offender had traveled to Asia and paid families there to create images of their children being sexually abused for financial gain, the investigation found. “Although the offender denied engaging in sexual exploitation while abroad, it is likely from the information obtained that they were a sex tourist,” a spokesman at the Department of Internal Affairs in New Zealand said. In Britain, officers from the National Crime Agency arrested 450 people on charges of using the platform, and those detentions often brought additional charges. “Much of this activity took place during the COVID-19 lockdowns, when the majority of young people were at home and offenders had more time to spend online targeting their victims,” said Sarah Blight, a spokeswoman for the agency. The agency found a pattern of offenders working in “positions of trust,” including at kindergartens and primary schools, in health care professions, as religious clergy or within law enforcement. One suspect, who worked as a night support worker in a children’s home, had hundreds of indecent images of children on his phone, officials said.

Hundreds held after New Zealand-led investigation into images of child abuse

A judgement by an Indian high court lowering the sentence of a man who is convicted of forcing a 10-year-old boy to perform oral sex has caused outrage across the country.

The Allahabad High Court in the northern Uttar Pradesh state had ruled that the man's offence did not fall under the stringent the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act’s definition of “aggravated penetrative sexual assault”, which carries a jail sentence of minimum 10 years.

Instead, the court said the offence should be viewed as “penetrative sexual assault" - a lesser offence that carries a minimum seven-year jail term.

Justice Anil Kumar Ojha of the Allahabad High Court passed his order on November 18, in which he upheld the conviction but questioned which section of POCSO would be applicable.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indias-sc-sets-aside-lower-courts-ruling-that-skin-to-skin-contact-is-essential-for-sexual-offence-case-430241">India's SC sets aside lower court's ruling that skin-to-skin contact is essential for sexual offence case</a>

“Perusal of the record reveals that informant and victim have supported the prosecution story and the evidence of prosecution witnesses are cogent, trustworthy, credible and probable, hence, finding with regard to conviction is confirmed,” he said.

The order caused outrage across India with many calling the judgement regressive.

Parliamentarian Mahua Moitra was among those who expressed her anger at the order.

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Oral sex doesn’t fall under ‘aggravated sexual assault’ in POCSO, says Allahabad HC after Bombay HC shockingly said skin to skin contact necessary for POCSO offence. 
 
Wake up High Courts- POCSO meant to save kids from vilest crimes. Don’t dilute it.
— Mahua Moitra (@MahuaMoitra) <a href="https://twitter.com/MahuaMoitra/status/1463180603210145792?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 23, 2021</a></blockquote>
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“Wake up High Courts - Pocso meant to save kids from vilest crimes. Don't dilute it,” she tweeted.

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Allahabad HC lowers penalty imposed by Special Sessions Court on a convict guilty of having oral sex with a 10-year-old child in lieu of Rs 20 !! 
 
Reason - the crime committed by him is 'less serious' 
 
Are our Courts encouraging children prostitution by paedophiles?
— Katyusha (@Indian10000000) <a href="https://twitter.com/Indian10000000/status/1463083938302226437?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 23, 2021</a></blockquote>
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The judgement comes only days after the Supreme Court reversed a decision of the Bombay High Court which acquitted an accused who was jailed for groping a 12-year-old girl.

The high court ruled that the most important ingredient in convicting sexual offenders under POCSO Act is “sexual intent and not skin-to-skin.”

(With inputs from agencies)

A judgement by an Indian high court lowering the sentence of a man who is convicted of forcing a 10-year-old boy to perform oral sex has caused outrage across the country.

A judgement by an Indian high court lowering the sentence of a man who is convicted of forcing a 10-year-old boy to perform oral sex has caused outrage across the country. The Allahabad High Court in the northern Uttar Pradesh state had ruled that the man's offence did not fall under the stringent the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act’s definition of “aggravated penetrative sexual assault”, which carries a jail sentence of minimum 10 years. Instead, the court said the offence should be viewed as “penetrative sexual assault" - a lesser offence that carries a minimum seven-year jail term. Justice Anil Kumar Ojha of the Allahabad High Court passed his order on November 18, in which he upheld the conviction but questioned which section of POCSO would be applicable. Also read | India's SC sets aside lower court's ruling that skin-to-skin contact is essential for sexual offence case “Perusal of the record reveals that informant and victim have supported the prosecution story and the evidence of prosecution witnesses are cogent, trustworthy, credible and probable, hence, finding with regard to conviction is confirmed,” he said. The order caused outrage across India with many calling the judgement regressive. Parliamentarian Mahua Moitra was among those who expressed her anger at the order. Oral sex doesn’t fall under ‘aggravated sexual assault’ in POCSO, says Allahabad HC after Bombay HC shockingly said skin to skin contact necessary for POCSO offence. Wake up High Courts- POCSO meant to save kids from vilest crimes. Don’t dilute it. — Mahua Moitra (@MahuaMoitra) November 23, 2021 × “Wake up High Courts - Pocso meant to save kids from vilest crimes. Don't dilute it,” she tweeted. Allahabad HC lowers penalty imposed by Special Sessions Court on a convict guilty of having oral sex with a 10-year-old child in lieu of Rs 20 !! Reason - the crime committed by him is 'less serious' Are our Courts encouraging children prostitution by paedophiles? — Katyusha (@Indian10000000) November 23, 2021 × The judgement comes only days after the Supreme Court reversed a decision of the Bombay High Court which acquitted an accused who was jailed for groping a 12-year-old girl. The high court ruled that the most important ingredient in convicting sexual offenders under POCSO Act is “sexual intent and not skin-to-skin.” (With inputs from agencies)

Indian high court's judgement lowering sentence of man accused in child abuse causes outrage

The French bishops recently said that they accepted that the Catholic church bore an "institutional responsibility" in the thousands of child abuse cases which were revealed in a shocking report. In its annual meeting, the Bishops Conference president Eric de Moulins-Beaufort said that the church was guilty of allowing the abuses to become "systemic."

"This responsibility implies a duty to provide justice and reparation," the archbishop said.&nbsp;

The commission has recommended that the church accepts civil and social responsibility for the abuses. Also, it has been said that the financial compensation should be calculated for each individual case based on the severity of abuses suffered.

This comes after an independent inquiry in October revealed that sexual abuse of minors by Catholic priests and other clergymen has had 216,000 victims between 1950 and 2020. This was called a "massive phenomenon" that was hushed up by a "veil of silence".

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/france-inquiry-reveals-216000-cases-of-paedophilia-by-catholic-priests-since-1950-418328">Also read |&nbsp;France: Inquiry reveals 216,000 cases of paedophilia by Catholic priests since 1950</a>

The annual meeting was not entirely dedicated to the response to the report. However, the 120 bishops from different parts of France have devoted much of their week-long meeting to "the fight against violence and sexual aggression directed at minors".

The abuse victims were invited to join the meeting.

Many victims declined the invite as they were against the decision to make the sexual abuse scandal just one of several topics.&nbsp;

The report was released after an investigation of two and a half years. It was launched after widespread outrage over a string of paedophilia claims and prosecutions against Church officials worldwide.

The report of the inquiry, at nearly 2,500 pages, found that the "vast majority" of victims were pre-adolescent boys from a wide variety of social backgrounds.

"The Catholic Church is, after the circle of family and friends, the environment that has the highest prevalence of sexual violence," the report said.

The French bishops recently said that they accepted that the Catholic church bore an "institutional responsibility" in the thousands of child abuse cases which were revealed in a shocking report.

The French bishops recently said that they accepted that the Catholic church bore an "institutional responsibility" in the thousands of child abuse cases which were revealed in a shocking report. In its annual meeting, the Bishops Conference president Eric de Moulins-Beaufort said that the church was guilty of allowing the abuses to become "systemic." "This responsibility implies a duty to provide justice and reparation," the archbishop said. The commission has recommended that the church accepts civil and social responsibility for the abuses. Also, it has been said that the financial compensation should be calculated for each individual case based on the severity of abuses suffered. This comes after an independent inquiry in October revealed that sexual abuse of minors by Catholic priests and other clergymen has had 216,000 victims between 1950 and 2020. This was called a "massive phenomenon" that was hushed up by a "veil of silence". Also read | France: Inquiry reveals 216,000 cases of paedophilia by Catholic priests since 1950 The annual meeting was not entirely dedicated to the response to the report. However, the 120 bishops from different parts of France have devoted much of their week-long meeting to "the fight against violence and sexual aggression directed at minors". The abuse victims were invited to join the meeting. Many victims declined the invite as they were against the decision to make the sexual abuse scandal just one of several topics. The report was released after an investigation of two and a half years. It was launched after widespread outrage over a string of paedophilia claims and prosecutions against Church officials worldwide. The report of the inquiry, at nearly 2,500 pages, found that the "vast majority" of victims were pre-adolescent boys from a wide variety of social backgrounds. "The Catholic Church is, after the circle of family and friends, the environment that has the highest prevalence of sexual violence," the report said.

French bishops say church bore 'institutional responsibility' for child abuse

After allegedly viewing a video of his 8-year-old daughter being raped by an acquaintance, a father in Russia has been lauded as a "hero" for killing his pal.

The factory worker Vyacheslav, 34, was drinking with his longtime friend Oleg Sviridov, 32 when he watched the harrowing footage on Sviridov's phone.

He quickly confronted Sviridov, who fled before he could react, according to news.com.au, an Australian news website.&nbsp;

Before knifing the paedophile who abused his daughter, the distraught father made him dig his own grave.&nbsp;

Sviridov had been Vyacheslav's long-time friend and godfather to the little girl, who was now nine and had cared about her on his several times.

Videos showing him assaulting other young victims were also discovered on the phone, one of whom was purportedly identified as his previous live-in partner's daughter.

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

After allegedly viewing a video of his 8-year-old daughter being raped by an acquaintance, a father in Russia has been lauded as a "hero" for killing his pal. The factory worker Vyacheslav, 34, was drinking with his longtime friend Oleg Sviridov, 32 when he watched the harrowing footage on Sviridov's phone.

After allegedly viewing a video of his 8-year-old daughter being raped by an acquaintance, a father in Russia has been lauded as a "hero" for killing his pal. The factory worker Vyacheslav, 34, was drinking with his longtime friend Oleg Sviridov, 32 when he watched the harrowing footage on Sviridov's phone. He quickly confronted Sviridov, who fled before he could react, according to news.com.au, an Australian news website. Before knifing the paedophile who abused his daughter, the distraught father made him dig his own grave. Sviridov had been Vyacheslav's long-time friend and godfather to the little girl, who was now nine and had cared about her on his several times. Videos showing him assaulting other young victims were also discovered on the phone, one of whom was purportedly identified as his previous live-in partner's daughter. (With inputs from agencies)

Russian father ‘made paedophile friend who abused his daughter dig his own grave’

An Indonesian singer, who was convicted of child molestation, triggered a national outrage after he appeared on a number of TV shows following his release from prison earlier this month.

A petition asking to keep Saipul Jamil off TV stations has been signed by nearly 500,000 people.

Complaints posted on social media said the media channels who were inviting Jamil to celebrate his release were ignoring the suffering of Jamil’s victim.

A news channel<a href="https://en.tempo.co/read/1503066/trans-tv-apologizes-for-inviting-saipul-jamil-to-talk-show">,</a>&nbsp;Trans TV,&nbsp;which was the first to invite the singer, has apologised after facing intense backlash.

Following the public outcry, the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission has instructed state broadcasters not to carry news items that celebrate the singer’s release.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/virginity-check-for-female-recruits-indonesian-army-ends-the-abusive-two-finger-test-404687">Virginity check for female recruits: Indonesian army ends the abusive two-finger test</a>

Film director Angga Sasongko said he is dropping talks on distribution contracts for two of his shows with Trans TV because of the station’s decision to feature the singer.

He wrote on Twitter that the decision was in response to the TV station’s move to “present Saipul Jamil on television in a disrespectful way for the victim”, adding that Trans TV “doesn't share the same values with our works which are kid-friendly”.

Jamil was charged in an obscenity case on February 18, 2016, after he was caught molesting a 17-year-old boy.

Following his confession, the singer was convicted and sentenced to three years in prison in July 2017. On his appeal to the Jakarta High Court, the judicial panel increased his sentence to five years.

He was sentenced to an additional three years in prison in a separate case, which found him guilty of offering a 50 million Indonesia rupee ( around $3504.33) bribe to a clerk at the North Jakarta District Court.

(With inputs from agencies)

An Indonesian singer, who was convicted of child molestation, triggered a national outrage after he appeared on a number of TV shows following his release from prison earlier this month.

An Indonesian singer, who was convicted of child molestation, triggered a national outrage after he appeared on a number of TV shows following his release from prison earlier this month. A petition asking to keep Saipul Jamil off TV stations has been signed by nearly 500,000 people. Complaints posted on social media said the media channels who were inviting Jamil to celebrate his release were ignoring the suffering of Jamil’s victim. A news channel, Trans TV, which was the first to invite the singer, has apologised after facing intense backlash. Following the public outcry, the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission has instructed state broadcasters not to carry news items that celebrate the singer’s release. Also read | Virginity check for female recruits: Indonesian army ends the abusive two-finger test Film director Angga Sasongko said he is dropping talks on distribution contracts for two of his shows with Trans TV because of the station’s decision to feature the singer. He wrote on Twitter that the decision was in response to the TV station’s move to “present Saipul Jamil on television in a disrespectful way for the victim”, adding that Trans TV “doesn't share the same values with our works which are kid-friendly”. Jamil was charged in an obscenity case on February 18, 2016, after he was caught molesting a 17-year-old boy. Following his confession, the singer was convicted and sentenced to three years in prison in July 2017. On his appeal to the Jakarta High Court, the judicial panel increased his sentence to five years. He was sentenced to an additional three years in prison in a separate case, which found him guilty of offering a 50 million Indonesia rupee ( around $3504.33) bribe to a clerk at the North Jakarta District Court. (With inputs from agencies)

Indonesian singer convicted of child abuse sparks row after appearing on TV channel

The National Crime Agency (NCA) of Britain has warned that Facebook's plan to encrypt its messages can prevent detection of child abuse.

The social media giant's end-to-end encryption can hamper access to ''incisive technology'' according&nbsp;to NCA's director Rob Jones.

The warning comes as Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said the company was working on plans to extend encryption.

It is bound to alarm privacy campaigners. UK's government is also trying to curb the tech titan's plans.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/facebook-misinformation-gets-six-times-more-engagement-than-factual-posts-study-411355" hreflang="en">Facebook misinformation gets six times more engagement than factual posts: Study</a>

Facebook had allowed its users to make voice and video calls within its main app on a trial basis, aiming to make it easier to place calls without opening its standalone Messenger app.

Under this strategy, Facebook extended the option of end-to-end encryption in which nobody else, not even the company itself can listen or see what is said or sent.

After facing criticism for introducing child safety updates, Apple had announced a delay in its introduction.

The company had promised last month to check US customer phones and computers for child sex abuse images.

But the move sparked a global backlash from a wide range of rights groups, with employees also criticising the plan internally.

As per the US National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), the tech industry made over 21 million referrals internationally of child sexual abuse on its platforms in 2020.

The National Crime Agency (NCA) of Britain has warned that Facebook's plan to encrypt its messages can prevent detection of child abuse. The social media giant's end-to-end encryption can hamper access to ''incisive technology'' according to NCA's director Rob Jones.

The National Crime Agency (NCA) of Britain has warned that Facebook's plan to encrypt its messages can prevent detection of child abuse. The social media giant's end-to-end encryption can hamper access to ''incisive technology'' according to NCA's director Rob Jones. The warning comes as Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said the company was working on plans to extend encryption. It is bound to alarm privacy campaigners. UK's government is also trying to curb the tech titan's plans. Also read | Facebook misinformation gets six times more engagement than factual posts: Study Facebook had allowed its users to make voice and video calls within its main app on a trial basis, aiming to make it easier to place calls without opening its standalone Messenger app. Under this strategy, Facebook extended the option of end-to-end encryption in which nobody else, not even the company itself can listen or see what is said or sent. After facing criticism for introducing child safety updates, Apple had announced a delay in its introduction. The company had promised last month to check US customer phones and computers for child sex abuse images. But the move sparked a global backlash from a wide range of rights groups, with employees also criticising the plan internally. As per the US National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), the tech industry made over 21 million referrals internationally of child sexual abuse on its platforms in 2020.

UK: National Crime Agency warns Facebook's encryption can prevent detection of child abuse

Texas' state commissioner of Family and Protective Services categorised genital gender-affirming procedures for trans youngsters as child abuse on Wednesday.&nbsp;

“Genital mutilation of a child through reassignment surgery is child abuse,” said Commissioner Jaime Masters. “This surgical procedure physically alters a child’s genitalia for non-medical purposes potentially inflicting irreversible harm to children’s bodies.”

Earlier this month, Texas Governor Greg Abbott had requested clarity on the matter from the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS), which is in charge of investigating allegations of abuse, neglect, or exploitation of children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities.&nbsp;

Governor Abbott asked the DFPS to investigate the matter on August 6 and stated the definition of abuse should include any surgical procedure for gender reassignment that will sterilize the child.

Surgeries he mentioned included hysterectomy, penectomy, and mastectomy.

Teachers, nurses, doctors, and day-care workers who are state-licensed or work in state-licensed or state-operated facilities could face a Class A misdemeanour charge, punishable by up to a year in prison if they discover a child has undergone gender-affirming surgery and do not report it to Masters' agency.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Texas' state commissioner of Family and Protective Services categorised genital gender-affirming procedures for trans youngsters as child abuse on Wednesday. “Genital mutilation of a child through reassignment surgery is child abuse,” said Commissioner Jaime Masters.

Texas' state commissioner of Family and Protective Services categorised genital gender-affirming procedures for trans youngsters as child abuse on Wednesday. “Genital mutilation of a child through reassignment surgery is child abuse,” said Commissioner Jaime Masters. “This surgical procedure physically alters a child’s genitalia for non-medical purposes potentially inflicting irreversible harm to children’s bodies.” Earlier this month, Texas Governor Greg Abbott had requested clarity on the matter from the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS), which is in charge of investigating allegations of abuse, neglect, or exploitation of children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities. Governor Abbott asked the DFPS to investigate the matter on August 6 and stated the definition of abuse should include any surgical procedure for gender reassignment that will sterilize the child. Surgeries he mentioned included hysterectomy, penectomy, and mastectomy. Teachers, nurses, doctors, and day-care workers who are state-licensed or work in state-licensed or state-operated facilities could face a Class A misdemeanour charge, punishable by up to a year in prison if they discover a child has undergone gender-affirming surgery and do not report it to Masters' agency. (With inputs from agencies)

US state of Texas declares gender-affirming surgery for transgender kids a form of child abuse

Parents, educators, child safety and privacy professionals, and policymakers are rightfully concerned about how to keep children and teenagers safe online as they spend more time online. 
 
In order to create a safer online experience for children, Google has announced that anybody under the age of 18 or their parent or guardian will be able to request that their photos be removed from Google search results in the coming weeks.

Removing an image from search doesn't remove it from the web, but "we believe this change will help give young people more control of their images online," Google said in a statement late on Tuesday. 
 
Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/apple-to-check-icloud-photo-uploads-for-child-abuse-images-403391">Apple to check iCloud photo uploads for child abuse images</a>

In a post on its blog website, Google said that, "While we already provide a range of removal options for people using Google Search, children are at particular risk when it comes to controlling their imagery on the internet. In the coming weeks, we’ll introduce a new policy that enables anyone under the age of 18, or their parent or guardian, to request the removal of their images from Google Image results. Of course, removing an image from search doesn’t remove it from the web, but we believe this change will help give young people more control of their images online. " 
 
Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/united-kingdom-lodges-more-cases-of-child-sexual-abuse-during-lockdown-311679">United Kingdom lodges more cases of child sexual abuse during lockdown</a>

The changes are similar to those made by Facebook last month, when it announced that Instagram accounts for children under the age of 16 would be turned private by default, requiring users to select whether or not to make their profiles public.

It also prohibited advertisements targeting children based on their hobbies or activities, but it did not prohibit targeting them based on age, gender, or geography.&nbsp;

Children's YouTube uploads will eventually default to the most private option.&nbsp;

"We're going to change the default upload setting to the most private option available (on YouTube) for teens ages 13-17," said the company. 
 
Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-east-asia/keyboard-predators-southeast-asias-kids-targeted-by-online-paedophiles-219432">Keyboard predators: Southeast Asia's kids targeted by online paedophiles</a>

Over the next several months, Google will begin rolling out these improvements to all of its products throughout the world.

SafeSearch, which helps filter out explicit results when enabled, is currently available from Google and is turned on by default for any signed-in users under the age of 13 who have accounts managed by Family Link.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Parents, educators, child safety and privacy professionals, and policymakers are rightfully concerned about how to keep children and teenagers safe online as they spend more time online.

Parents, educators, child safety and privacy professionals, and policymakers are rightfully concerned about how to keep children and teenagers safe online as they spend more time online. In order to create a safer online experience for children, Google has announced that anybody under the age of 18 or their parent or guardian will be able to request that their photos be removed from Google search results in the coming weeks. Removing an image from search doesn't remove it from the web, but "we believe this change will help give young people more control of their images online," Google said in a statement late on Tuesday. Also read | Apple to check iCloud photo uploads for child abuse images In a post on its blog website, Google said that, "While we already provide a range of removal options for people using Google Search, children are at particular risk when it comes to controlling their imagery on the internet. In the coming weeks, we’ll introduce a new policy that enables anyone under the age of 18, or their parent or guardian, to request the removal of their images from Google Image results. Of course, removing an image from search doesn’t remove it from the web, but we believe this change will help give young people more control of their images online. " Also read | United Kingdom lodges more cases of child sexual abuse during lockdown The changes are similar to those made by Facebook last month, when it announced that Instagram accounts for children under the age of 16 would be turned private by default, requiring users to select whether or not to make their profiles public. It also prohibited advertisements targeting children based on their hobbies or activities, but it did not prohibit targeting them based on age, gender, or geography. Children's YouTube uploads will eventually default to the most private option. "We're going to change the default upload setting to the most private option available (on YouTube) for teens ages 13-17," said the company. Also read | Keyboard predators: Southeast Asia's kids targeted by online paedophiles Over the next several months, Google will begin rolling out these improvements to all of its products throughout the world. SafeSearch, which helps filter out explicit results when enabled, is currently available from Google and is turned on by default for any signed-in users under the age of 13 who have accounts managed by Family Link. (With inputs from agencies)

Children and minors can now request Google to remove their images from Google Search

A former babysitter who served a few months in jail for shaking a five-month-old boy so forcefully 37 years ago that he suffered permanent brain damage now faces a possible life sentence after his death from those injuries in 2019, at age 35, officials said.

Terry McKirchy, 59, who now lives in Texas, was arrested again on July 2 after a grand jury in Broward County, Florida, indicted her on a first-degree murder charge in the death of Benjamin Dowling, prosecutors said this week.

She was taking care of him at her home in Hollywood, Florida, on July 3, 1984, when he had difficulty breathing, the authorities said. His mother told investigators that she immediately took him to a hospital, where doctors found that he had been shaken with such force that it had severed the blood vessels to his brain.

McKirchy was sentenced to 60 days in jail and probation after pleading no contest in 1985 to charges of attempted murder and aggravated child abuse.

Dowling was left with severe physical and mental disabilities.

Prosecutors in Broward County, Florida, said this week that they had opened a new case after the medical examiner who conducted Dowling's autopsy in Manatee County, Florida, where he had been living at the time of his death, referred the matter to law enforcement.

Prosecutors had faced scrutiny over their initial handling of the original case, including for comments that one prosecutor who was involved in the plea deal made to The Miami Herald in 1985. That prosecutor, who remains employed by the Broward County State Attorney's Office, called McKirchy’s sentence "therapeutic"&nbsp;at the time, but offered no further explanation.

Forensic experts considered the passage of time "between the injuries sustained and the death of the victim" when conducting the autopsy and ruled that "the death was directly caused by the injuries from 1984,"&nbsp;the Broward County State Attorney’s Office said in a statement this week. "The facts speak for themselves,"&nbsp;it said, "and this case was presented to the grand jury, which determined that this was a homicide."

McKirchy, who was in jail in Fort Bend County, Texas, awaiting extradition to Florida, faces up to life in prison if convicted.

A former babysitter who served a few months in jail for shaking a five-month-old boy so forcefully 37 years ago that he suffered permanent brain damage now faces a possible life sentence after his death from those injuries in 2019, at age 35, officials said.

A former babysitter who served a few months in jail for shaking a five-month-old boy so forcefully 37 years ago that he suffered permanent brain damage now faces a possible life sentence after his death from those injuries in 2019, at age 35, officials said. Terry McKirchy, 59, who now lives in Texas, was arrested again on July 2 after a grand jury in Broward County, Florida, indicted her on a first-degree murder charge in the death of Benjamin Dowling, prosecutors said this week. She was taking care of him at her home in Hollywood, Florida, on July 3, 1984, when he had difficulty breathing, the authorities said. His mother told investigators that she immediately took him to a hospital, where doctors found that he had been shaken with such force that it had severed the blood vessels to his brain. McKirchy was sentenced to 60 days in jail and probation after pleading no contest in 1985 to charges of attempted murder and aggravated child abuse. Dowling was left with severe physical and mental disabilities. Prosecutors in Broward County, Florida, said this week that they had opened a new case after the medical examiner who conducted Dowling's autopsy in Manatee County, Florida, where he had been living at the time of his death, referred the matter to law enforcement. Prosecutors had faced scrutiny over their initial handling of the original case, including for comments that one prosecutor who was involved in the plea deal made to The Miami Herald in 1985. That prosecutor, who remains employed by the Broward County State Attorney's Office, called McKirchy’s sentence "therapeutic" at the time, but offered no further explanation. Forensic experts considered the passage of time "between the injuries sustained and the death of the victim" when conducting the autopsy and ruled that "the death was directly caused by the injuries from 1984," the Broward County State Attorney’s Office said in a statement this week. "The facts speak for themselves," it said, "and this case was presented to the grand jury, which determined that this was a homicide." McKirchy, who was in jail in Fort Bend County, Texas, awaiting extradition to Florida, faces up to life in prison if convicted.

Ex-babysitter charged with murder 37 years after shaking infant, prosecutors say

After losing a judo fight, a seven-year-old boy is now fighting for his life after he was slammed on the mat 27 times during a&nbsp;practice session.

WeiWei — child’s nickname — is a seven-year-old from Taiwan who is a fan of Super Mario and loves to spend his time playing different sports.

With his passion for sports, he convinced his family in April to let him take judo lessons. However, after two weeks of practice, he was thrown to the floor 27 times by an elder student. While Wei Wei made it clear that he was in pain, his coach kept ordering him to stand up and asked the elder boy to keep slamming the kid.

In a disturbing video, which has come out as a piece of evidence, Wei Wei can be heard screaming “my leg”, “my head” and “I don’t want it”, but the coach has also been caught on camera encouraging the elder student, instead of stopping the fight.

Not just this, when Wei Wei became too weak to get up, he was thrown on the floor several times by the coach himself, who is much bigger and stronger than the seven-year-old. The deadly training wasn’t stopped even when the kid vomited.

Soon enough WeiWei passed out and was taken to a hospital, where doctors announced that he has suffered severe brain hemorrhaging and has been in a coma since then on life support.

This has raised serious concerns about an existing debate of whether children are being abused in the name of culture.

The coach, in his late 60s, has denied any wrongdoing but has been placed in incommunicado detention after the parents held a press conference to raise the issue.

Surprisingly, WeiWei’s uncle was also present at the venue, and several other adults, who filmed the video to prove to WeiWei’s mother that judo might not be the best fit for him. However, nobody stopped the coach.

His mother said the kid’s uncle has felt terrible for what happened. “They may have been thinking since the coach requires it, I shouldn't oppose the coach's requirement,” she said. “We've seen many examples of this reaction and mindset; even in serious cases.”

WeiWei’s mother has once again urged people to talk about corporal punishment and child abuse in the name of culture. “Taiwanese people still don't put enough importance on this issue and even stay silent,” she said.

"We need to educate adults to really respect and protect children," Feng said. "This is the government's responsibility. The government and society need to re-evaluate themselves."

&nbsp;

After losing a judo fight, a seven-year-old boy is now fighting for his life after he was slammed on the mat 27 times during a practice session. WeiWei — child’s nickname — is a seven-year-old from Taiwan who is a fan of Super Mario and loves to spend his time playing different sports.

After losing a judo fight, a seven-year-old boy is now fighting for his life after he was slammed on the mat 27 times during a practice session. WeiWei — child’s nickname — is a seven-year-old from Taiwan who is a fan of Super Mario and loves to spend his time playing different sports. With his passion for sports, he convinced his family in April to let him take judo lessons. However, after two weeks of practice, he was thrown to the floor 27 times by an elder student. While Wei Wei made it clear that he was in pain, his coach kept ordering him to stand up and asked the elder boy to keep slamming the kid. In a disturbing video, which has come out as a piece of evidence, Wei Wei can be heard screaming “my leg”, “my head” and “I don’t want it”, but the coach has also been caught on camera encouraging the elder student, instead of stopping the fight. Not just this, when Wei Wei became too weak to get up, he was thrown on the floor several times by the coach himself, who is much bigger and stronger than the seven-year-old. The deadly training wasn’t stopped even when the kid vomited. Soon enough WeiWei passed out and was taken to a hospital, where doctors announced that he has suffered severe brain hemorrhaging and has been in a coma since then on life support. This has raised serious concerns about an existing debate of whether children are being abused in the name of culture. The coach, in his late 60s, has denied any wrongdoing but has been placed in incommunicado detention after the parents held a press conference to raise the issue. Surprisingly, WeiWei’s uncle was also present at the venue, and several other adults, who filmed the video to prove to WeiWei’s mother that judo might not be the best fit for him. However, nobody stopped the coach. His mother said the kid’s uncle has felt terrible for what happened. “They may have been thinking since the coach requires it, I shouldn't oppose the coach's requirement,” she said. “We've seen many examples of this reaction and mindset; even in serious cases.” WeiWei’s mother has once again urged people to talk about corporal punishment and child abuse in the name of culture. “Taiwanese people still don't put enough importance on this issue and even stay silent,” she said. "We need to educate adults to really respect and protect children," Feng said. "This is the government's responsibility. The government and society need to re-evaluate themselves."

'My head!': 7-year-old in coma after coach, elder boy slam him 27 times in 'judo practice'

The scourge of sexual abuse continues to roil the Catholic church as multiple cases of child abuse&nbsp;have surfaced in recent years across&nbsp;Italy, the United States and Argentina.

The head of an independent enquiry investigating church child abuse in France said Tuesday that there might have been at least 10,000 victims since 1950.

Jean-Marc Sauve, head of a commission set up by the Catholic Church, said that a previous estimate in June last year of 3,000 victims "is certainly an underestimate."

"It's possible that the figure is at least 10,000," he added at a press conference where he delivered an update on the commission's work.

A hotline set up in June 2019 for victims and witnesses to report abuse received 6,500 calls in the first 17 months of operation.&nbsp;

"The big question for us is 'how many victims came forward'? Is it 25 per cent? 10 per cent, five per cent or less?" Sauve told reporters.

The Bishops' Conference of France agreed in November 2018 to set up the commission after huge and repeated child abuse scandals shook the Catholic Church at home and abroad.

The move sparked mixed reactions from victims' associations at the time, who applauded attempts to encourage survivors to speak out, but questioned French prosecutors' willingness and ability to press charges.

Reacting to the new estimate on Tuesday, several victims' associations said they suspected that even 10,000 was an underestimate.&nbsp;

"It's the tip of the iceberg, it's certainly even more," said Veronique Garnier from the group Faith and Resilience.

"10,000 is a lot but it's the bottom of the scale. We're far from the truth," said Jean-Pierre Sautreau, who heads a victims' group in the Vendee region in western France.

The commission, comprised of more than 20 figures drawn from legal, academic and medical backgrounds, was originally scheduled to deliver a final report by the end of 2020 but has set a new deadline of September this year.

Sauve said the final report would present "broad conclusions" which would seek to answer the question of "how we got here, beyond the failings and individual crimes of priests and religious figures."

Allegations against priests and senior Catholic figures have lead to pay-outs and prosecutions worldwide, as well as changes to church doctrine.

In 2019, a French court gave the archbishop of Lyon, Philippe Barbarin, a six-month suspended jail sentence for covering up for a priest, Bernard Preynat, who was accused of assaulting around 70 scouts between 1986 and 1991.

Barbarin's conviction was overturned on appeal in 2020, but the Pope accepted his resignation.

Preyant was given a five-year jail term in 2020.

In May 2019, Pope Francis passed a landmark new measure obliging anyone in the Church who knew about sex abuse to report it to their superiors.

Cases of clerical abuse continue to emerge every other day across the world.&nbsp;

In Chicago,&nbsp;a third man has come forward with sexual abuse allegations against a priest known for his activism. While in Cologne, Germany a&nbsp;new confidential report reveals that nuns sold orphaned children to priests and businessmen to serve as sex slaves.

The scourge of sexual abuse continues to roil the Catholic church as multiple cases of child abuse have surfaced in recent years across Italy, the United States and Argentina.

The scourge of sexual abuse continues to roil the Catholic church as multiple cases of child abuse have surfaced in recent years across Italy, the United States and Argentina. The head of an independent enquiry investigating church child abuse in France said Tuesday that there might have been at least 10,000 victims since 1950. Jean-Marc Sauve, head of a commission set up by the Catholic Church, said that a previous estimate in June last year of 3,000 victims "is certainly an underestimate." "It's possible that the figure is at least 10,000," he added at a press conference where he delivered an update on the commission's work. A hotline set up in June 2019 for victims and witnesses to report abuse received 6,500 calls in the first 17 months of operation. "The big question for us is 'how many victims came forward'? Is it 25 per cent? 10 per cent, five per cent or less?" Sauve told reporters. The Bishops' Conference of France agreed in November 2018 to set up the commission after huge and repeated child abuse scandals shook the Catholic Church at home and abroad. The move sparked mixed reactions from victims' associations at the time, who applauded attempts to encourage survivors to speak out, but questioned French prosecutors' willingness and ability to press charges. Reacting to the new estimate on Tuesday, several victims' associations said they suspected that even 10,000 was an underestimate. "It's the tip of the iceberg, it's certainly even more," said Veronique Garnier from the group Faith and Resilience. "10,000 is a lot but it's the bottom of the scale. We're far from the truth," said Jean-Pierre Sautreau, who heads a victims' group in the Vendee region in western France. The commission, comprised of more than 20 figures drawn from legal, academic and medical backgrounds, was originally scheduled to deliver a final report by the end of 2020 but has set a new deadline of September this year. Sauve said the final report would present "broad conclusions" which would seek to answer the question of "how we got here, beyond the failings and individual crimes of priests and religious figures." Allegations against priests and senior Catholic figures have lead to pay-outs and prosecutions worldwide, as well as changes to church doctrine. In 2019, a French court gave the archbishop of Lyon, Philippe Barbarin, a six-month suspended jail sentence for covering up for a priest, Bernard Preynat, who was accused of assaulting around 70 scouts between 1986 and 1991. Barbarin's conviction was overturned on appeal in 2020, but the Pope accepted his resignation. Preyant was given a five-year jail term in 2020. In May 2019, Pope Francis passed a landmark new measure obliging anyone in the Church who knew about sex abuse to report it to their superiors. Cases of clerical abuse continue to emerge every other day across the world. In Chicago, a third man has come forward with sexual abuse allegations against a priest known for his activism. While in Cologne, Germany a new confidential report reveals that nuns sold orphaned children to priests and businessmen to serve as sex slaves.

French Catholic clergy may have abused at least 10,000 people since 1950

The Philippines is set to raise the age of sexual consent from the age of 12 to 16. Once the bill is approved, the legal age for sexual consent in the Catholic-majority country would go up.

The country has one of the world’s lowest ages of consent in the world. The Philippines allows adults to legally engage in sexual intercourse with children as young as 12.

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Child rights activists have been demanding this change for years. The legal age has been enshrined in the country’s penal code since 1930. But to much resistance, change was not brought in earlier.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/south-china-sea-us-vows-support-to-philippines-and-vietnam-over-row-with-china-344931" hreflang="en">South China Sea: US vows support to Philippines and Vietnam over row with China</a>

The country has also banned abortion and divorce, with the Congress set to increase the age of sexual consent to 16. Activists feel that this move would help protect youngsters across the country, where online child sex abuse is rampant, and more than 500 teenagers get impregnated and give birth everyday.

“This is a victory for Filipino children”, announced Patrizia Benvenuti, UNICEF's chief of child protection in the Philippines. Currently, the legislation is inching closer to a final vote, and many believe that keeping 12 as the age of consent for kids is inconsistent with studies on brain development.

Data paints a grim picture of the state of child rights in the Philippines, where child rape and sexual abuse are rampant.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/american-nsas-visit-to-vietnam-philippines-represents-cold-war-mentality-chinese-embassies-345190" hreflang="en">American NSA's visit to Vietnam, Philippines represents 'Cold War mentality': Chinese embassies</a>

A woman or child is raped every hour in the country, as claimed by a senator - Risa Hontiveros, in a document citing numbers from the Center for Women’s Resources. The data also revealed that seven out of 10 victims of abuse are children, with the majority being girls.

The legislation could pave way for stronger calls for the protection of girls in the country. A government supported study from 2015 showed that one in five children aged 13-17 experienced sexual violence, while one in 25 experienced rape in the country.

The Philippines is set to raise the age of sexual consent from the age of 12 to 16. Once the bill is approved, the legal age for sexual consent in the Catholic-majority country would go up.

The Philippines is set to raise the age of sexual consent from the age of 12 to 16. Once the bill is approved, the legal age for sexual consent in the Catholic-majority country would go up. The country has one of the world’s lowest ages of consent in the world. The Philippines allows adults to legally engage in sexual intercourse with children as young as 12. Child rights activists have been demanding this change for years. The legal age has been enshrined in the country’s penal code since 1930. But to much resistance, change was not brought in earlier. Also read: South China Sea: US vows support to Philippines and Vietnam over row with China The country has also banned abortion and divorce, with the Congress set to increase the age of sexual consent to 16. Activists feel that this move would help protect youngsters across the country, where online child sex abuse is rampant, and more than 500 teenagers get impregnated and give birth everyday. “This is a victory for Filipino children”, announced Patrizia Benvenuti, UNICEF's chief of child protection in the Philippines. Currently, the legislation is inching closer to a final vote, and many believe that keeping 12 as the age of consent for kids is inconsistent with studies on brain development. Data paints a grim picture of the state of child rights in the Philippines, where child rape and sexual abuse are rampant. Also read: American NSA's visit to Vietnam, Philippines represents 'Cold War mentality': Chinese embassies A woman or child is raped every hour in the country, as claimed by a senator - Risa Hontiveros, in a document citing numbers from the Center for Women’s Resources. The data also revealed that seven out of 10 victims of abuse are children, with the majority being girls. The legislation could pave way for stronger calls for the protection of girls in the country. A government supported study from 2015 showed that one in five children aged 13-17 experienced sexual violence, while one in 25 experienced rape in the country.

Philippines to raise age of sexual consent from 12 to 16

Philippines is set to approve a bill that raises the age of sexual consent from 12 to 16. This catholic majority country currently has one of the lowest ages of consent in the world.

Philippines set to raise age of consent, child abuse on a rise in Philippines

Harley Davidson bikers dressed in Santa Claus costumes rode through the streets of central Tokyo on Sunday (December 20) for their annual parade against child abuse, saying more children were vulnerable in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Santas on bikes parade through downtown Tokyo against child abuse

Santa Claus bikers parade Tokyo streets for victims of child abuse

Internet addiction is a real issue. However intense it may be, it cannot be justified to&nbsp;put&nbsp;children in solitary confinement. That’s what happened in China.

A group of men who ran a de-addiction centre for kids who can’t get off their screens in China have been sentenced to prison time. According to court documents, men with surnames Wu, Reg, Zhang, and Qu were imprisoned for illegally confining 12 people in the Yuzhang Academy in Jiangxi province for over ten days. Out of these, 11 were minors.

Similar facilities everywhere

The facility is one of many such treatment centres to spur up in China over the last years with newly found concerns for people who spend a lot of time browsing content online.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="/world/xi-jinpings-hunger-for-power-grows-as-china-struggles-with-pandemic-311714" hreflang="en">Xi Jinping's hunger for power grows as China struggles with pandemic</a>

China does not go easy on its internet users, where people are subjected to heavy censorship and the government exercising full control over the internet. This happens in a country with one of the world’s largest internet user bases.

In 2008, China recognised internet addiction as a real disorder, which may have set the stage for child abuses across the country in such treatment centres.

Cruel intentions?

A 19-year-old girl was killed in the Chinese city of Zhengzhou after handles at one of these de-addiction centres beat her black and blue.&nbsp;Many reports also suggest that such centres use electric therapies to “treat” children.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="/world/china-launches-operation-fox-hunt-to-target-dissenters-captures-ex-interpol-chief-311725" hreflang="en">China launches Operation Fox Hunt to target dissenters; captures ex-Interpol chief</a>

Wu, the major perpetrator was put in prison for three years. Ten and Zhang received two years, seven months and one year, ten months prison time respectively. Qu only recently 11 months of prison time.

State-run Global Times claimed that kids in the academy were put in dark dingy rooms with just a blanket and a toilet pot.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="/world/eu-urges-china-to-free-activists-on-crackdown-anniversary-311720" hreflang="en">EU urges China to free activists on crackdown anniversary</a>

The government in China is not too far behind. In November 2019, an internet curfew was announced for people aged below 18. As part of this, they can play 90 minutes worth of video on weekdays, and three hours worth of clips on weekends. Additionally, minors in the country cannot play video games between 10 PM and 8 AM.

Currently, 850 million people in the country have access to the internet. Out of these, 200 million are aged between 15 and 35.

Internet addiction is a real issue. However intense it may be, it cannot be justified to put children in solitary confinement. That’s what happened in China. A group of men who ran a de-addiction centre for kids who can’t get off their screens in China have been sentenced to prison time.

Internet addiction is a real issue. However intense it may be, it cannot be justified to put children in solitary confinement. That’s what happened in China. A group of men who ran a de-addiction centre for kids who can’t get off their screens in China have been sentenced to prison time. According to court documents, men with surnames Wu, Reg, Zhang, and Qu were imprisoned for illegally confining 12 people in the Yuzhang Academy in Jiangxi province for over ten days. Out of these, 11 were minors. Similar facilities everywhere The facility is one of many such treatment centres to spur up in China over the last years with newly found concerns for people who spend a lot of time browsing content online. Also read: Xi Jinping's hunger for power grows as China struggles with pandemic China does not go easy on its internet users, where people are subjected to heavy censorship and the government exercising full control over the internet. This happens in a country with one of the world’s largest internet user bases. In 2008, China recognised internet addiction as a real disorder, which may have set the stage for child abuses across the country in such treatment centres. Cruel intentions? A 19-year-old girl was killed in the Chinese city of Zhengzhou after handles at one of these de-addiction centres beat her black and blue. Many reports also suggest that such centres use electric therapies to “treat” children. Also read: China launches Operation Fox Hunt to target dissenters; captures ex-Interpol chief Wu, the major perpetrator was put in prison for three years. Ten and Zhang received two years, seven months and one year, ten months prison time respectively. Qu only recently 11 months of prison time. State-run Global Times claimed that kids in the academy were put in dark dingy rooms with just a blanket and a toilet pot. Also read: EU urges China to free activists on crackdown anniversary The government in China is not too far behind. In November 2019, an internet curfew was announced for people aged below 18. As part of this, they can play 90 minutes worth of video on weekdays, and three hours worth of clips on weekends. Additionally, minors in the country cannot play video games between 10 PM and 8 AM. Currently, 850 million people in the country have access to the internet. Out of these, 200 million are aged between 15 and 35.

China imprisons several men for confining children in internet de-addiction centres

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