FREQUENTLY
ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: Why is this site needed?
A: Until now, there has been no international
mechanism in place to enable members of the public to gain access to local and international law enforcement when they have
evidence of sex crimes against children committed abroad.
Q: Where are tips received from?
A: Tips have been received from countries in North America, Europe, and Asia to date. Some tips have come from victims and others have been
submitted by people who have witnessed or otherwise gained knowledge of sex crimes.
Q: What happens to tips received
through the website?
A: Tips are reviewed to determine which levels of law enforcement
agency/agencies and government are most appropriate to investigate and receive them. For example, a tip received about a suspected
Canadian sex offender committing an offence in Cambodia is forwarded to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Canadian Embassy in Phnom Penh, Cambodian Ministry of the Interior sex tourism hotline, and if their city of origin is know to the Municipal
Police Force as well.
Q: What happens after a tip is forwarded
to law enforcement?
A: The law enforcement agency reviews
the tip to determine if there is enough information to warrant an investigation. If there is enough evidence, an investigation
occurs according to the national laws of the police force in question. All applicable rights and freedoms for reporting persons,
victims, and suspected offenders apply. Should the investigation result in evidence to warrant an arrest and charge, one is
made in cooperation between police forces. In cases of trans-national crime, various governments and police forces have agreements
in place to enable the extradition of offenders for arrest and prosecution. Offenders can be prosecuted under the laws of
the host or the home country.
Q: Is this a witch hunt?
A: Certainly not. It is a tool to help
members of the public and responsible tourists, to report foreigners who commit sex crimes abroad. The sites aim is to provide
access to local and international law enforcement to everyday people who would otherwise not report evidence or knowledge
of sex offences.
Q: Do you publicize the names of
people who are reported through the site?
A: No. Only convicted offenders whose
names have appeared in public court documents or in the media are reported on the website. While some of these may have resulted
from tips received through the site, we only publicize the names of offenders after they have been convicted in a court of
law.
Q: Is this website a substitute
for the role that governments should be playing?
A: No. Since the trafficking and sexual
exploitation of children is a trans-national and indeed global problem, no one government is equipped or has the jurisdiction
to enable the investigation and prosecution of all offenders. This website acts as a link between law enforcement and governments
to receive tips about suspected sex crimes committed anywhere around the world.
Q: Do you make any money off this?
How is this funded?
A: This is a non-profit website as a
service offered free-of-charge to reporting persons, law enforcement and governments alike. It is funded by private donors.
Q: Is this imperialist or opposed
to developing countries?
A: To the contrary, this website targets
sex users from largely developed countries and seeks to have them punished and brought to justice. A great deal of work has
gone into ensuring that is accessible to countries around the world and that is why information is available in a number of
major world languages of both developed and developing countries. As additional translation services are provided, and to
meet demand, more languages will be accessible.
Q: How can I submit a tip about
a suspected sex offender or website?
A: Just fill out the online form by
following the "report offenders" link. After you have completed all the information that you have, just click the "Submit"
button. Please click the "help" link to gain access to more thorough explanations of any information requested.
Q: This tool is excellent. How can
I help spread the word about it?
A: If you are a non-governmental organization,
local law enforcement agency, international company, or run your own website, you can become a partner. Just follow the "partners"
icon and scroll to the bottom of the page. Join the growing number of partners who are backing the effort to combat child
sexual exploitation internationally. Contact us to be added to the list of partners and download banners for use on your website.
