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Seksuaalirikokset-leipäteksti
Sex offences
In 2021, nearly 5,400 sexual offences were reported to the Police of Finland, much more than half of which were targeted at children. In addition, the Police of Finland investigated more than 850 offences related to sexual imagery of children in 2021.
Sexual offences include sexual harassment, sexual abuse, coercion into a sexual act, rape and sexual abuse of a child. The possession and distribution of sexual imagery of children are also punishable acts.
A part of sex offences are unreported
Only part of sexual offences are reported to the Police of Finland. Fear or shame may prevent individuals from submitting a crime report. Furthermore, not everyone knows that they have been subject to a crime.
Sexual acts targeted at children and young people online seem to be so common that approaches may be considered ordinary. A sexual act targeted by an adult at a child is a crime, even in an online environment, and it should always be reported to the authorities. Perpetrators often have other victims, and reporting can prevent criminal activities from continuing.
Sexual harassment
Sexual harassment became a punishable act in Finland in 2014. According to the Criminal Code of Finland, sexual harassment means an act made by touching that violates the right of sexual self-determination.
In practice, sexual harassment means the unwanted touching of the body, such as patting the buttocks, grabbing the breasts, caressing or other groping. Harassment can take place anywhere, and the perpetrator can be known or unknown.
If you have experienced sexual harassment:
- Memorise the perpetrator’s distinguishing characteristics if harassment took place in a public place, for example.
- Submit a crime report as quickly as possible.
- Seek help if you feel anxiety. We all react differently to harassment.
- Remember that the perpetrator is responsible – harassment is not your fault.
Rape
Sex requires the consent of all parties involved. According to the Criminal Code of Finland, rape means that a person is forced into sexual intercourse by the use or threat of violence.
A situation where the other party is unable to defend themselves or express their consent to sex is also considered a rape. For example, an individual unconscious due to significant intoxication cannot give their valid consent to sex.
Rape is considered aggravated if it causes grievous bodily injury, the offence is caused by several people, especially marked psychological or physical suffering is caused, the victim is a child under 18 years of age, the offence is committed in a particularly brutal, cruel or humiliating manner, or a weapon is used or a threat of other serious violence is made.
Attempted rape is also a punishable act.
Sexual offences against children and adolescents
According to the Criminal Code of Finland, the age of consent is 16 years. As a rule, a sexual act targeted by an adult at a child under 16 years of age meets the characteristics of a crime. If the perpetrator is the child’s parent or in a position comparable to parenthood, the age limit for the child is 18 years of age.
A sexual offence targeted at a child can be a physical act, persuading a child to such an act or attempting such an act, both in the real world and in an online environment. As a rule, sexual intercourse with a child under 16 years of age or by a parent or a person in a position comparable to parenthood with a child under 18 years of age is an aggravated sexual abuse of a child.
In 2019, a new section on the aggravated rape of a child was added to the Criminal Code of Finland. If a perpetrator is found guilty of an aggravated rape and an aggravated sexual abuse of a child, the person can be sentenced to imprisonment from four to 12 years for an aggravated rape of a child.
Sexual offences are shifting to online environments
Currently, an increasing number of sexual offences targeted at children take place in or through online services. Acts are targeted at both boys and girls, and they take place on all online platforms that are used by children. The best way to prevent such crime is to maintain a fruitful dialogue with children, also regarding their use of online services.
Sexual offences targeted at children online can include sending or requesting sexual messages, images or videos, or abuse through a web camera. Some offences that start in online services can also lead to physical encounters. Offences taken place online or acts in which a sexual image of a child has started to spread online can be as damaging to children as physical acts.
The responsibility always rests with the adult
Interest in sexuality is part of a child’s normal development. Even if a child actively exchanges messages online, the responsibility always rests with the adult. A child’s consent to sexual messaging with an adult is irrelevant considering whether the act is a crime.
Consensual dating between young people of the same age or related sexual messaging, or the voluntary sending of images based on a mutual consent when dating do not meet the criteria for a sexual offence. By forwarding revealing images of another child or young person under 18 years of age to others or posting them on social media, a young person over 15 years of age is guilty of a crime.
Seksuaalirikokset -oikean palstan sisältö -en
Always notify the police if you suspect a crime
Sex offences against children are damaging and sensitive crimes. Because of the sensitivity of the matter, the offences are not always reported to the police. A single, seemingly petty act may lead the police to a larger serial case. Perpetrators often have many victims. This is why it is important to notify the police, regardless of the severity of the incident. Early notifications can prevent several acts and stop cases that are already going on.
What if you run into a sexual offence as a bystander? Contact the local police and tell them what you know about the incident.
Authorities have a duty to notify
Many entities have the obligation to notify the police about observed sex crimes against children. This also applies to sex offences perpetrated online. In addition to different authorities, these entities include the school system, youth programmes, children’s day-care, parishes and the organisers of morning and afternoon activities for school children.
Seksuaalirikokset-haitari
Remember that the rape was not your fault. When you report the rape to the police, they can catch the perpetrator and prevent new rape cases.
It is natural to be in shock after being raped. Do not blame yourself if you can’t act rationally right away or you don’t remember everything. In an urgent situation, the police arriving will make your situation easier. They will see to it that the necessary things are done.
- When the situation is urgent or the rape has just occurred, call the emergency number 112 right away.
- Do not shower or change clothes. Stains, hair, or fibres from the offender can be important evidence.
- Try to memorise a description of the offender and the crime scene.
- If the rape was committed in a car, memorise the car’s description and registration number.
- If the rape was committed in an apartment or other space, memorise the place so that you can point it out later
- If you need to see a doctor before you contact the police, explain that you have been raped and ask the doctor to obtain the necessary samples. The police will also direct the victim to be checked by a medical examiner to gather the necessary evidence.
- Report the offence as soon as possible. If the police have investigated the matter at the crime scene, the patrol usually reports the offence at that stage.
- Do not be alone. Rape is a serious and shocking crime. You can get help from, for example, Victim Support Finland.
Sex offences can be punished with a fine or imprisonment:
- fine or imprisonment for a minimum of six months for sexual harassment
- imprisonment for a minimum of one year and a maximum of six years for rape
- imprisonment for a minimum of two years and a maximum of ten years for aggravated rape, 2 to 10 years
For sexual offences against children:
- imprisonment for a minimum of 4 months and a maximum of six years for sexual abuse of a child
- imprisonment for a minimum of one year and a maximum of ten years for aggravated sexual abuse of a child
- imprisonment for a minimum of four years and a maximum of twelve years for aggravated rape of a child
- fine or imprisonment for a maximum of two years for purchasing sexual services from a young person
- fine or imprisonment for a maximum of one year for the solicitation of a child for sexual purposes.
Grooming means sexual abuse of a child that starts online and its preparation. In legislation, this is called solicitation of a child for sexual purposes. In grooming, the perpetrator contacts the child online and suggests a meeting or other contact. The messages already show that the purpose of the meeting is a sex offence against the child or, for example, filming the child with a sexual intent.
The messaging may continue for a longer time before any actual acts. The perpetrator may start by building the child’s trust with very everyday things. Even if a child goes along with this, the adult is always responsible.
Children and adolescents may be offered money, intoxicating substances, or other property in exchange for sex and favours related to it. On the internet, the child may be requested to send nude photos, for example, by promising a reward. The child may also get blackmailed to perform sexual acts by threatening to post the nude photos. These are also punishable acts in the law.
Always notify the police if you suspect a crime
Sex offences against children are damaging and sensitive crimes. Because of the sensitivity of the matter, the offences are not always reported to the police. A single, seemingly petty act may lead the police to a larger serial case. Perpetrators often have many victims. This is why it is important to notify the police, regardless of the severity of the incident. Early notifications can prevent several acts and stop cases that are already going on.
What if you run into a sexual offence as a bystander? Contact the local police and tell them what you know about the incident. How to prevent sexual offences on the internet?
- Do not join WhatsApp groups that are not related to hobbies or a defined small group of people you know
- Do not accept strangers as friends in applications if a stranger sends you a message in an application and tries to approach you in a suspicious way, block them and tell your parents about the message.
- Pay attention to protecting your accounts and privacy. Keep your profile private.
- If an adult sends you messages with sexual content, please tell your parents or another adult you trust, even if this may feel awkward or embarrassing.
- Remember that everything is not what it seems on the internet. A nice kid you chat with may actually be an adult in real life.
- Never give anyone your contact information. If you agree to see someone you have met online, always tell your parents and bring someone with you.
- Never meet anyone in their home, car, in a hotel or anywhere except in public places. Do not give in if the other person threatens or blackmails you.
- All conversations and contact information should be stored.
- Pay attention to what applications your children download to their phones. Note the age limits of applications and that there is solicitation in applications intended for minors, such as Momio.
- Use remote positioning of mobile phones so that you know where the child is physically and what applications they use.
- Pay attention to boys’ gaming world. Solicitors often play with children and bribe them with different items, turning the conversation into a sexual direction after that.
- Tell the child to not accept strangers as friends in applications.
- Familiarise yourself with the different applications and services used by the child. Pay attention to the protection of accounts, closed accounts, and privacy. This is important to identify and anticipate the dangers of different applications.
- Children rarely tell their parents or the authorities if they encounter online abuse. Young people usually feel ashamed of what happened and think that it is partly their fault.
- Gain a sufficient level of trust from your child, so that he or she will have the courage to tell you if they encounter online abuse.
- To start a conversation, the adult should ask actively about the child’s online activities. The child can be asked to show what they do online and where, also in places that are not suspicious at all. Be encouraging and supportive.
- If you find out that something bad has happened, it is important that you do not blame the child. The child is not responsible for what happened.
- You should contact the police about every individual case.
- All material related to the matter must be stored.
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