Dutch alarmed by paedophile group

By Geraldine Coughlan
BBC News, The Hague

A political party with a paedophile agenda has been registered in The Netherlands, prompting outrage among many parts of society.

The party plans to push for a cut in the legal age for sexual relations to 12 from 16 and for legalisation of child pornography and sex with animals.

The Charity, Freedom and Diversity (NVD) party says it promotes freedom of speech and will stand in May elections.

MPs say they will ask the government to do something to stop the new party.

The Charity, Freedom and Diversity Party says it intends to "shake The Hague awake".

Taboos

The party says its aim is to break taboos and fight intolerance. Its members say they want paedophilia to be freely discussed, arguing that a ban just makes children curious.

They claim the subject has been a taboo since the 1996 Marc Dutroux child abuse scandal in Belgium.

They also want to break the "negative" stigma surrounding paedophilia by getting into parliament.

But the NVD says it is not just a one-issue party. It also wants children from the age of 12 to be able to vote; it promotes the legalisation of hard and soft drugs and free train travel for all.