In South Korea, convicted paedophiles can now face a controversial punishment known as "chemical castration".
A law enacted in July gives judges the power to order sex offenders to undergo drug treatment designed to diminish sexual urges.
The government says the new legislation's aim is to protect children against the increasing number of reported sex crimes.
But for the critics, the practice violates basic human rights.
[youtube]xpe1fuNCwgI[/youtube]
South Korea is launching an online register of convicted sex offenders this week as part of a campaign to protect children.
From Thursday, the authorities will list the names of 169 recently convicted rapists and paedophiles, and the neighbourhoods in which they are living.
The government has decided against publishing photographs and the home addresses of offenders because of fears that it would violate the offenders' rights.
Correspondents say the measure is surprising because South Korean society is regarded as conservative and there is usually little open discussion of sex crimes.
Offenders' names will be removed from the website after six months, but women's groups have said they will download the list and post it on their sites.
About half of South Korea's 46-million population use the internet.
Differing approaches
Similar websites have a chequered history in other countries.
In the United States, dozens of states publish information on convicted sex offenders.
But in the UK, similar campaigns have been condemned by police and children's groups who fear the information could do more harm than good by provoking public anger and driving paedophiles underground.
via BBC/video:reuters
A law enacted in July gives judges the power to order sex offenders to undergo drug treatment designed to diminish sexual urges.
The government says the new legislation's aim is to protect children against the increasing number of reported sex crimes.
But for the critics, the practice violates basic human rights.
[youtube]xpe1fuNCwgI[/youtube]
South Korea is launching an online register of convicted sex offenders this week as part of a campaign to protect children.
From Thursday, the authorities will list the names of 169 recently convicted rapists and paedophiles, and the neighbourhoods in which they are living.
The government has decided against publishing photographs and the home addresses of offenders because of fears that it would violate the offenders' rights.
Correspondents say the measure is surprising because South Korean society is regarded as conservative and there is usually little open discussion of sex crimes.
Offenders' names will be removed from the website after six months, but women's groups have said they will download the list and post it on their sites.
About half of South Korea's 46-million population use the internet.
Differing approaches
Similar websites have a chequered history in other countries.
In the United States, dozens of states publish information on convicted sex offenders.
But in the UK, similar campaigns have been condemned by police and children's groups who fear the information could do more harm than good by provoking public anger and driving paedophiles underground.
via BBC/video:reuters