被禁止的性行為與性暴力

成人與兒童的性接觸: 孌童癖: 有關的法律方面 2

正如我們已經明白的那樣，法院在審問兒童性侵犯過程中，不可能有足夠的細緻。不過，這個注意事項並不是有意要否定不可否認的事實：的確存在嚴重的性侵犯兒童的犯罪，而且需要對性侵犯兒童的犯罪提起訴訟。但是，提起訴訟的數量低於公眾常常開始所認為的數量。不但聳人聽聞的媒體會審訊“兒童性騷擾（child molester）”案件，而且可憎的兒童謀殺犯也會受到媒體廣泛的輪番報導，並以同樣的方式使報紙讀者和電視觀眾感到震驚。然而，普通大眾常常得到的是一個扭曲的畫面。簡單地看一看長期的“報導的案例”和“宣判有罪的罪犯”的統計，就能夠給熱炒這種起爭議的話題的人們帶來一劑有益平和心態的清醒劑。例如，強有力的證據顯示，在1990年代，對兒童的身體虐待和性辱虐（sexual abuse）案件在美國就已經下降。在德國聯邦共和國，可以得到另一組引人關注的統計資料。在超過44年裏，宣判有罪的這類案件並沒有顯著的上升。

Prohibited Sexual Behavior and Sexual Violence

Adult Sexual Contact with Children: Pedophilia: Legal Aspects 2

As we have seen, courts cannot be careful enough in trying sexual offenses against children. However, this cautionary note is not intended to deny undeniable facts: There are indeed serious sexual crimes committed against children, and they need to be prosecuted. However, their number is lower than the public is often led to believe. Not only sensational mass trials of “child molesters”, but also gruesome murders of children receive extensive media coverage and shock newspaper readers and television viewers alike. Nevertheless, the general public is often left with a distorted picture. A simple look at the long-term statistics of ‘cases reported’ and ‘offenders convicted’ can bring a healthy dose of sobriety to the often heated discussion of this controversial topic. For example, there is strong evidence that, in the 1990s, the physical and sexual abuse of children has declined in the US. Another interesting statistic can be found in the Federal Republic of Germany: Over a period of 44 years, there was no significant increase in the number of convictions.