STATEMENT: Canadian Centre applauds the Government of Canada on taking action to close bestiality loophole

The Canadian Centre for Child Protection (Canadian Centre) applauds the Government of Canada for acting on concerns raised about the loophole created by the decision issued by the Supreme Court of Canada in R v DLW.

Through the operation of Cybertip.ca — Canada’s tipline to report the online sexual exploitation of children — the Canadian Centre is aware that the sexual abuse of children can often also involve the sexual abuse of an animal.

The Canadian Centre reviewed the imagery reported to Cybertip.ca prior to January 4, 2018 that involved the sexual abuse of children and animals, and found that only 21% of the images depicted penetrative activity. It is clear that the narrow definition of bestiality pronounced through the DLW decision was inadequate and left children and animals at risk of egregious sexual acts that, while non-penetrative, are still deeply disturbing.