The Recent International Efforts to End Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children
![handle is hein.journals/denilp31 and id is 597 raw text is: THE RECENT INTERNATIONAL EFFORTS TO END
COMMERCIAL SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF CHILDREN
Karene Jullien*
On February 15 1995, English writer John Stamford faced charges in Belgium
for illicit publication and encouraging sexual exploitation of children., How could
an ex-Anglican Pastor be involved with child pornography or child prostitution?
Stamford was the publisher and editor of Spartacus, the first tourist guide
catering to homosexuals. Available since 1970, the book was an instant success.
It was presented in more than 150 countries, translated into five languages and sold
more than 60,000 copies per year for 25 years.2 Even with the original controversy
surrounding the publication, it was not apparent that Stamford was involved with
commercial sexual exploitation of children until an encoded message, hidden
within the guide, was later discovered to be oriented toward pedophiles.
Stamford's indictment was one of the first public legal efforts to deter sexual
exploitation of children in the world. However, it took 13 years for the authorities
to take action. From 1981, the organization Terre des Hommes had been
denouncing Stamford's activities and had repeatedly asked Interpol to investigate.3
Today, it has been established that Stamford was not only the editor of Spartacus,
the tourist guide, but was also the head of Spartacus, a pedophile organization.
With approximately 30,000 members worldwide, the ring shared addresses, home
movies, photos, etc.4 Stamford never lived to be convicted; he died of a heart
attack in jail in December 1995.5 With his death, all investigation on the
* The author is a French international student with a J.D. 2003, from the University of Denver, College
of Law; admitted to the New York Bar. She received a B.S. in Business Adminstration in 1999 from
the University of Central Florida, Orlando. I wish to thank my parents for their constant support.
I. Jacqueline Remy, Christophe Agnus, Sylviane Stein, La p~dophilie - Enqudte sur un sujet
tabou, L'Express, Feb. 2, 1995 [hereinafter Remy, Lapedophilie].
Stamford was risking up to one year of imprisonment.
2. Spartakus & Spartacus, May 8, 2001, Rdseau International pour la Digniti Humaine, par
l'information et l'action contre la pddocriminalitd, available at http://www.dignaction.org/Fspart.html
(last visited Jan. 3, 2003), [hereinafter Spartakus & Spartacus].
3. Serge Garde, Histoire secr&te. Un ripertoire photographique et un cidgrom restent inexploitds
dans la lute contre les riseaux transnationaux, Le Web de LHumanitd, Feb. 24, 2000, available at
http://www.humanite.presse.fryournal/2000/2000-O2/2000-02-24/2000-02-24-O18.html (last visited Jan.
3, 2003)[hereinafter Garde, Histoire Secrete].
4. Thomas Sancton, Partout dans le monde, des garqons et des filles sont maltraitis dans un
commerce m~chant de sexe maintenant encouragg par des riseaux informatiques. Que pouvons-nous
faire pour combattre lefldau?, TEMPS International, Vol. 148, Num. II, Sept. 2, 1996, available at
http://www.rosenczveig.com/presse/temps.htm (last visited Jan.3, 2003).
5. See Garde, Histoire Secrite, supra note 3.](ViewImageLocal?handle=hein.journals/denilp31&div=37&collection=&method=preview&ext=.png&size=3)
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The Recent International Efforts to End Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children
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