How child sexual abuse is tackled around the world

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This is a photo of a little girl sat alone in the dark.Image source, Thinkstock

Earlier this month, Indonesia passed controversial laws authorising chemical castration in an attempt to put an end to paedophilia.

The law was championed by President Joko Widodo who said Indonesia could "wipe out" sexual abuse with the new policy.

The Indonesian Doctors Association called the plan unethical, but Indonesia is not the first country to come up with a scheme to prevent paedophilia.

Here's how some other countries around the world are trying to put an end to child sexual abuse.

Russia, Poland and South Korea

If President Joko Widodo's new law came as a shock to some, countries including Russia, Poland and South Korea already use chemical castration as a preventative measure.

Chemical castration is the use of drugs to reduce sex drive and libido, without sterilisation or removing organs.

In these three countries the procedure is used on those found guilty of child sexual abuse.

Chemical castration has also been trialled in Sweden.

Germany

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Germany kicked off project "Kein Täter Werden" in 2005, meaning "don't offend".

The project started in Berlin and provides therapy to adults who feel they might commit sexual offences against children.

The therapy is free, confidential and aims to help potential abusers overcome their problems by addressing how they view sexual preference.

The project - available in 10 German cities - has been criticised for the confidentiality it gives to sexual abusers.

UK

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Following in the footsteps of Germany, organisations StopSO and Stop it Now! also offer therapy to potential sexual abusers.

They aim to reduce sexual abuse through counselling and rehabilitation.

Unlike the German model, these British charities don't allow full patient confidentiality and patients sign up knowing that any abuse they confess to will be reported to authorities.

Chemical castration is also offered to prisoners in the UK.

Czech Republic

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The Czech Republic is the only European country that still uses surgical castration regularly, where 94 operations have been performed on consenting patients since 1999.

In 2009, Europe's Anti-Torture Committee criticised the Czech Republic , externalfor still using surgical castration on sex offenders calling it a "degrading treatment."

The procedure remains available to convicted sexual offenders.

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