Sexual abuse against children has always existed. Grassroot values, culture and sensibility concerning childhood have changed; laws have changed. What has never changed is the silence. The silence of the young victims, imprisoned by blackmail, shame and deception, now as in the past. The silence of adults who can see but can’t believe that they see. It’s too difficult for an abused child to shout; it’s too difficult for an abused child to accuse their tormentor, especially when it is someone they love. It’s too difficult for others to hear their fear, betrayal, horror. But that was not enough. We hit rock bottom when we not only abused children, but actually traded them on the market of shame; when new technology allowed sexual abuse to be “documented” through photos and videos and used to make profits. Now that proof of the worst crime that Man can commit is there for everyone to see on the internet, there is still silence. Silence regarding the 49,393 sites demonstrating the huge proportions that online paedophilia reached in 2009. The silence to which abused children - used to produce the scandalous pictures – are forced, their pictures fixed and amplified to infinity, perpetuating their pain and humiliation: knowing that anyone can witness their abuse and find it exciting renews the offence and makes it even harder for the young victims to ask for help. The consciences of those that don’t act against this modern massacre of innocent children out of ignorance, fear or personal gain and would rather protect their own children from snares on the Internet without worrying about those enslaved by a criminal market of unthinkable proportions and unimaginable ferocity continue this terrifying silence. In this deafening silence, Telefono Arcobaleno aims to give a voice to this mute and denied childhood; it aims to put into words that which nobody wants to see but that must be told to ensure that this silence is transformed into millions of cries of rage, indignation and pain.

And to ensure that someone knows how to listen.