Ræða Kolbrúnar á Evrópuráðsþinginu
Mr President
I would like to begin by thanking the rapporteur, Laura Castel, for this ambitious report. Ms Castel has examined the issue in depth and has spoken to experts, victims and lawyers from around the world.
The fundamental question is whether violent pornography is part of free speech or whether it constitutes systemic violence against women and children that we have a duty to stop.
Research shows that around 90% of young people have seen pornography. Today, access to such material is easy through smartphones and social media. Many young people are exposed to pornography for the first time between the ages of 11 and 13, and often it happens by accident. As a psychologist myself, I am well aware of the consequences that repeated exposure to pornography can have on children and young people. There is great concern about this trend, as pornography gives young people an unrealistic image of sex and of healthy relationships.
The brains of young people are still developing and changing. Research suggests that excessive pornography viewing may affect this development. Exposure to pornography triggers reward chemicals such as dopamine in the brain. Over time, some individuals may seek increasingly extreme content in order to achieve the same level of stimulation. This can cause young people to have more difficulty controlling their emotions and behaviour. Young people who shape their understanding of relationships through pornography may develop a distorted understanding of consent. There is a risk that respect, empathy and mutual understanding will give way to violence and aggression.
The report also reminds us that violent pornography is not gender-neutral. In the vast majority of cases, women and girls are the targets of the violence depicted.
It is therefore crucial to intervene early through prevention and to strengthen sex education so that young people understand boundaries and what constitutes a healthy and respectful relationship. The law must be clear and online platforms and social media companies must take greater responsibility for identifying and removing illegal content.
Protecting children and women from violence is a public health issue.