News

NEWS

UK turns its back on Internet obscenity

It seems that UK ISPs are increasingly getting their act together on refusing to host obscene online content. This is the verdict drawn by the IWF (Internet Watch Foundation), which has released its annual report.

The Internet watchdog states that the amount of illegal and obscene material hosted by UK ISPs now represents less than one per cent of the worldwide total. This is a fall from the 18 per cent in 1997.

"The partnership between the IWF and the ISPs, telcos, mobile/software industries, police and government is an outstanding success story," states the IWF chief executive Peter Robbins in the introduction to the report.

But where is the other 99 per cent being served from? It seems that one of the largest culprits is the deregulated, post-Communist Russia, which is responsible for serving 23 per cent of abusive content. This figure is far more than the total for mainland Europe (six per cent, down from 18 per cent a year ago). The biggest source, however, is the USA, with 55 per cent of child pornography traced to the States.

The IWF also reports that 20,000 reports of illegal content were processed in 2003, up nine per cent on the previous year (3,517 reports relating to adult obscene material and 15,652 relating to child abuse content). Also within this figure, racial abuse-related complaints rose 101 per cent (303 reports were made).

More information can be found on the IWF website.

(MacUser magazine)

15,000 children a year thrown out of their homes

More than 15,000 children in the UK, aged under 16, are thrown out of home each year by parents who hit, neglect and reject them, says research from The Children's Society, published this week.

Of these, one in five (21%) are physically or sexually assaulted while away from home. Few of these children are ever reported missing to the police by their parents, so their plight often goes unnoticed.

Thrown Away: young people forced to leave home is the UK's first research into the plight of unwanted children who are thrown out, or forced to leave home. It is part of The Children's Society's Safe and Sound campaign calling on government to make England a safer place for young runaways.

Bob Reitemeier, chief executive of The Children's Society, says: "These are society's disposable children – thrown away or fleeing family violence. We have a responsibility to make sure these children have somewhere safe to go and someone sound to turn to."

The research highlights the dangers these young people face and reveals the main reasons they are thrown out:

Family breakdown – 23% (one in four) said they did not get on with their parents. Only a third lived with both of their birth parents.
Violence – 13% said their parents hit them a lot
Rejection – 12% felt their parents didn't care for them.

(From 2-in-2-1.co.uk Marriage news round-up)

Scottish legislation will undermine marriage

Changes in Scottish law designed to speed up divorce proceedings "risk severely undermining the permanence and stability of marriage," warns Cardinal Keith O'Brien.

"I am deeply concerned by the suggestion that the Scottish Executive are considering a reduction in the time period for non-contested divorce cases from two years to one year," the president of the Scottish bishops' conference said in a press statement recently.

"Such a move risks severely undermining the permanence and stability of marriage and as pilot trials in England and Wales have demonstrated is only likely to encourage divorce and marriage breakdown," the cardinal said.

"What Scottish couples whose marriages are in difficulty need is quick and convenient access to professional support and counselling," he added.

© Christian Family Network
is run by CPO, supported by
Care for the Family, Marriage Resource, Positive Parenting,
Care, Women Alive, Christian Herald and many others.


		NEWS UK turns its back on Internet obscenity It seems that UK ISPs are increasingly getting their act together on refusing to host obscene online content. This is the verdict drawn by the IWF (Internet Watch Foundation), which has released its annual report. The Internet watchdog states that the amount of illegal and obscene material hosted by UK ISPs now represents less than one per cent of the worldwide total. This is a fall from the 18 per cent in 1997. "The partnership between the IWF and the ISPs, telcos, mobile/software industries, police and government is an outstanding success story," states the IWF chief executive Peter Robbins in the introduction to the report. But where is the other 99 per cent being served from? It seems that one of the largest culprits is the deregulated, post-Communist Russia, which is responsible for serving 23 per cent of abusive content. This figure is far more than the total for mainland Europe (six per cent, down from 18 per cent a year ago). The biggest source, however, is the USA, with 55 per cent of child pornography traced to the States. The IWF also reports that 20,000 reports of illegal content were processed in 2003, up nine per cent on the previous year (3,517 reports relating to adult obscene material and 15,652 relating to child abuse content). Also within this figure, racial abuse-related complaints rose 101 per cent (303 reports were made). More information can be found on the IWF website. (MacUser magazine) 15,000 children a year thrown out of their homes More than 15,000 children in the UK, aged under 16, are thrown out of home each year by parents who hit, neglect and reject them, says research from The Children's Society, published this week. Of these, one in five (21%) are physically or sexually assaulted while away from home. Few of these children are ever reported missing to the police by their parents, so their plight often goes unnoticed. Thrown Away: young people forced to leave home is the UK's first research into the plight of unwanted children who are thrown out, or forced to leave home. It is part of The Children's Society's Safe and Sound campaign calling on government to make England a safer place for young runaways. Bob Reitemeier, chief executive of The Children's Society, says: "These are society's disposable children – thrown away or fleeing family violence. We have a responsibility to make sure these children have somewhere safe to go and someone sound to turn to." The research highlights the dangers these young people face and reveals the main reasons they are thrown out: Family breakdown – 23% (one in four) said they did not get on with their parents. Only a third lived with both of their birth parents. Violence – 13% said their parents hit them a lot Rejection – 12% felt their parents didn't care for them. (From 2-in-2-1.co.uk Marriage news round-up) Scottish legislation will undermine marriage Changes in Scottish law designed to speed up divorce proceedings "risk severely undermining the permanence and stability of marriage," warns Cardinal Keith O'Brien. "I am deeply concerned by the suggestion that the Scottish Executive are considering a reduction in the time period for non-contested divorce cases from two years to one year," the president of the Scottish bishops' conference said in a press statement recently. "Such a move risks severely undermining the permanence and stability of marriage and as pilot trials in England and Wales have demonstrated is only likely to encourage divorce and marriage breakdown," the cardinal said. "What Scottish couples whose marriages are in difficulty need is quick and convenient access to professional support and counselling," he added. © Christian Family Network is run by CPO, supported by Care for the Family, Marriage Resource, Positive Parenting, Care, Women Alive, Christian Herald and many others.