Outlaw Pedophilia

Resolution History

In July 2003, Fantasan was granted Moderator approval to submit a United Nations proposal barring sexual activities with pre-pubescent minors which had been previously deleted for overly explicit contents. This proposal, discussed at some length on the forum, contained provisions requiring mandatory minimum sentences for those convicted of the offenses mentioned therein. Opposed to these sentences, Goobergunchia (an enemy of Fantasan) submitted a brief, hastily-written proposal that outlawed "the sexual molestation of a pre-pubescent minor" but did not specify the penalties for that offense. Goobergunchian UN Ambassador Lord Evif, in submitting this proposal prior to the re-submission of Fantasan's, sought to forestall Delegate approval of that proposal by having his own appear above it on the list and thereby gain more approvals. He did not actively campaign for the proposal, only making a brief note and comment about it in Fantasan's thread.

Much to Lord Evif's surprise, his "Outlaw Pedophilia" proposal attained quorum and was voted on by the entire United Nations. Opposition on the floor was vocal, with many attacking the proposal on the grounds that it violated national sovereignty. Some, including Liberal Paradise delegate Stephistan, also argued that the proposal did not go far enough in protecting children; Goobergunchia countered that nations were free to enact their own laws in this matter, and pledged support for any resolution furthering this goal (which eventually became The Child Protection Act, Resolution #25). Another contingent argued that the resolution was in the wrong category, as is evidenced by the following telegram sent by The Realm of Ambrosia founder Cogitation [1]:

To The Republic of Goobergunchia:

I have taken note of your proposal "Outlaw Pedophilia" which has reached the floor of the United Nations.

Although I support the idea espoused by the text description, I would regard this proposal as a "Human Rights" proposal rather than a "Moral Decency" Proposal because it talks about molestation; sexual contact made *without* consent of the minor. Remember that "molest" implies that the sexual advances are not welcome.

If you resubmit this proposal as a "Human Rights" proposal, then I will ask the Delegate of my region to endorse the resubmitted proposal and will vote for it myself if it reaches the floor.

A true "Moral Decency" proposal (in my opinion) would be a proposal that says that nobody may engage in sexual activity with a minor *regardless* of whether or not the minor welcomes such activity. (This might be what you intended in the current proposal on the UN floor, but it's not what you wrote.) I would also vote for such a proposal if it reached the UN floor.

In short, I will vote against the current resolution because I feel that it is in the wrong category. However, if this is carefully rewritten into two separate categories, one "Human Rights" and one "Moral Decency", then I will support both of them.

I would be glad to help you with this if you agree with me and would like assistance writing such proposals.

--The Democratic States of Cogitation

"Think about it for a moment."

Founder of The Realm of Ambrosia

Goobergunchian officials received many telegrams less civil than that of Cogitation, however, causing the Goobergunchian telegram inbox to regularly overflow its limit of ten telegrams.

Despite the vocal nature of the opposition, the resolution passed by a margin of 11,739 in favor to 1,363 opposed, a very large margin of victory for the time. Unfortunately, all debates on this resolution on the NationStates forums have been lost to the forum purges.

Resolution Text

RESOLVED, That the act of sexual molestation of a pre-pubescent minor is hereby outlawed in all UN member nations.

Votes For: 11,739

Votes Against: 1,363

Implemented: Fri Jul 18 2003

Additional Materials

• Child Pornography Prohibition - A follow-up resolution.
• UN Timeline
• Index of UN Resolutions
• United Nations