Akhim Dev - The Children in the Pictures: Hunting Paedophiles

Dear friends, brace yourselves for an episode unlike any other. In truth, it’s a conversation that’s been incredibly difficult to prepare for, but one that must be shared. Tonight, as your children lie safely in their beds, enveloped in love & protected from harm, it’s crucial to remember that this isn’t the reality for countless children across the globe.

Joining me this week is filmmaker Akhim Dev – or Dev as he’s affectionately known.  Fuelled by a deep concern for the online safety of his youngest daughter, it quickly evolved into something much greater. So shaken by the vast and intricate web of online sexual exploitation of children, Dev set out to expose this horrific reality through the making of the internationally acclaimed documentary, "The Children in the Pictures."

This groundbreaking film takes us inside Taskforce Argos, an elite Australian police unit, as it infiltrates global criminal networks by going undercover to rescue children from the world's most depraved child abusers. 

Child Online Sexual exploitation is the fastest growing major crime in the world, and perpetrators are becoming increasingly sophisticated. Until recently led by one of Australia’s most decorated police officers, Detective Inspector Jon Rouse, Taskforce Argos devotes every waking moment to sifting through vast quantities of child sexual abuse materials, searching for vital clues that could help them rescue young victims.

"The Children in the Pictures" has been screened in over 150 countries, leaving audiences both aghast & galvanised to play their part in the eradication of online child sexual exploitation. The film’s been screened at the United Nations, the US Congress, and the Australian Parliament. 

The film’s companion podcast of the same name recently won GOLD at the esteemed 2023 New York Festival Radio Awards, as well as Best Documentary at the Australian Radio Awards. But for the members of Taskforce Argos as well as Dev & his team, this calling has nothing to do with prestigious prizes, it’s all & only about saving the Children in the Pictures.

Please note that this incredibly powerful and important episode of BRAVE JOURNEYS talks graphically about online childhood sexual exploitation and isn’t remotely suitable for little ears.

If you know a child in immediate danger, please contact police in Australia – call 000.

And if you need immediate support, contact The Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800.

If anything you hear during this episode is triggering in any way, please reach out to someone who can keep you safe.  And please remember if you’re in Australia, you can phone Lifeline at any time on 13 11 14.

BUT BEFORE YOU GO…

Find out more about Akhim here

Follow Akhim on Insta here

Follow Akhim on Facebook here

Watch “The Children in the Pictures”here

Find out more about Tam here

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Join the conversation and chat about the episode here

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CREDITS:

Creator, Host & Executive Producer: Tammi Faraday

With thanks to my special guest: Akhim Dev

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