Jan-Willem Breure Speaks Out Against Pedophilia! (Documentary Are All Men Pedophiles?)

Jan-Willem Breure speaks out against pedophilia in a new video. In a bold and provocative move, documentary filmmaker Jan Willem Breure confronted a taboo subject with his 2012 film, Are All Men Pedophiles? The title alone challenged deeply held societal fears and assumptions, but Breure's intent, as he articulated in a subsequent video, was not to defend a condemned behavior, but to analyze what he terms a "pedophilia hysteria" and its profoundly negative impact on modern society. Breure’s central thesis, woven through his work and personal statements, is that in a hyper-vigilant effort to protect children, society has inadvertently created a climate of fear that has isolated men and left a generation of boys without essential male role models.

Breure’s argument begins with a fundamental, yet controversial, distinction between different forms of attraction. As he explains in his video, he differentiates between two types of individuals often grouped under the label "pedophile." The first group consists of those who experience pedophilic fantasies but never act on them. Breure suggests that these individuals can be tolerated, as their inclinations remain a private matter that poses no harm to others. The second group, however, comprises those who engage in the abuse of children. For these individuals, Breure’s message is unequivocal: they should be imprisoned. He goes a step further, arguing that after serving their sentences, they should be permanently separated from children due to the widely accepted fact that there is no known cure for pedophilia.

This is a nuanced position, but one that lays the groundwork for his critique of what he calls "pedophilia hysteria," which he argues stems from a critical misunderstanding [01:32]. According to Breure, society fails to distinguish between pedophilia—the sexual attraction to prepubescent children—and hebephilia, which he defines as a sexual attraction to adolescents. The documentary's provocative tagline, "Eighteen Is Just a Number," encapsulates this argument, suggesting that attraction to teenagers is a natural biological preference for many men, and that equating this with pedophilia is both inaccurate and damaging. Breure’s film suggests that this conflation has led to a widespread "witch-hunt" against men, with the assumption that all men are potential pedophiles.

This pervasive fear, Breure contends, has had dire social consequences. He observes that over the last few decades, men have increasingly distanced themselves from children . This can be seen in various social and professional settings, from fathers becoming hesitant to play with children in public parks to men avoiding professions like teaching or childcare. The public perception, fueled by media portrayals of predators and a general climate of suspicion, has created a situation where even a benign interaction between a man and a child can be viewed with suspicion. This leads to men choosing to self-isolate rather than risk misinterpretation or accusation.

The most severe consequence of this self-isolation, in Breure’s view, is the resulting lack of male role models for young boys. He points to the increasing rate of divorce and the corresponding rise in single-mother households, which further exacerbates the problem. Without proper male role models, boys are left without the guidance and example necessary to navigate the challenges of growing up. This absence of a paternal or mentor figure, he argues, has a direct and significant negative impact on their development.

The emotional and psychological toll on boys growing up without strong male figures is at the heart of Breure's concern. He links this societal void to an increase in male violence, depression, and antisocial behavior. Boys who lack a positive example of what it means to be a man may struggle to form healthy identities and may be more likely to engage in self-destructive or harmful activities. Breure suggests that this is a fundamental social problem, one that is often overlooked in discussions about child safety and protection. He believes that the societal efforts to shield children have, paradoxically, created an environment that is detrimental to the healthy development of young men.

Ultimately, Breure’s work serves as a powerful and polarizing examination of societal anxieties. His core message—that the fear of a few can have far-reaching negative consequences for the many—challenges a widely accepted narrative. By urging a more rational and nuanced discussion around a sensitive topic, he seeks to highlight what he sees as a crisis of masculinity and mentorship, with serious repercussions for future generations.

In 2012 the documentary Are All Men Pedophiles? won the NVVS Media Prize (Sunny Bergman's VPRO documentary also participated and came in second place) The documentary appeared on Netflix in 2015-2016 and was distributed by GoDigital and Sideways Film.