The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has unanimously adopted a Report on “The protection of children against online violence”.

It treats child exposure to pornography as a type of online violence that children are particularly vulnerable to as they watch it massively and suffer serious consequences.

Written by Irish Senator Joseph O’Reilly of Fine Gael, the text says that “Preventing the exposure of children to pornography is particularly important, given the established effects on behaviour and development”.

It notes that “pornography consumption [is] significantly associated with an increase in verbal and physical aggression”. It also highlights the existence of “a link between pornography consumption and compulsive sexual behaviour disorder” and “a correlation between pornography and sexual violence between young people”.

It also states that “Pornography must be understood as a public health issue, for which States are responsible for taking appropriate measures, including education and awareness-raising measures”.

It now goes to Committee of Ministers to act on it.