What is paedophilia?
Paedophilia is a form of sexual abuse of children. It is an aberration of sexual behaviour in which the preferred sexual objects are children, usually under the age of 13.

Who are paedophiles?
Paedophiles are persons who practice paedophilia. They are present at every social and economic level and are very often respected members of the community. They can be close relatives or friends of the victim. They are the people who seem content to fantasize in the safety of their homes and find a sense of fulfilment in sexual activities with pre-pubescent children (children in the age group of 6-12 years).

Many of these offenders have extensive collections of child pornography or child erotic materials that feeds their fantasy. This may consist of photographs, toys, slides or video tapes. The paedophile collector can either be one who builds and views his collection in a very secretive manner or one who displays such material to others to make a profit.

He may use such collections:

• to lower the inhibitions in a victim and introduce him to the possibilities of sex with an adult.
   

• for his own gratification.
   

• to blackmail his victims into further sexual activity.

What are the characteristics of a paedophile?
A paedophile exhibits certain characteristics common to all such offenders:

• These people often have failed marriages due to their sexual interests. The wife prefers to keep quiet to avoid social stigma and disgrace.
   
• He displays a fascination or unusual interest in children.
   
• He may use inappropriate and exaggerated terms for children such as “pure”, “God sent” or “blissful”.
   
• His hobbies commonly belong to the child’s world such as toy collecting, building models of cars and planes and his room may be decorated in a child’s theme.
   
• He is generally single and has few or no friends of his age.
   
• He has systematic and prolonged access to children. Jobs such as that of school teachers, photographers, school counsellors and sports coaches serves his need well.
   
• Paedophiles are very adept at locating troubled or withdrawn children and lavish gifts upon the target and take him for activities in which they are left alone with no parental supervision.
   
• If the target is a troubled child, the paedophile will comfort and sympathize with him or her and often, over a period of time, the child will develop feelings for the offender even though he is being actively abused, a phenomenon called “Stockholm syndrome”.