Senator seeks tougher law vs sexual abuse

SEN. Ana Theresia Hontiveros has sought a law that will further protect children from online sexual abuse and exploitation.

The senator recently filed Senate Bill (SB) 2068, or the proposed “Anti-Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (Anti-Osaec) Law,” to strengthen the protection of children against online sexual abuse and exploitation.

“Due to [apparent] negligence [of concerned authorities], the Philippines has become a global hotspot for Osaec,” Hontiveros lamented.

“Our women and youth have long become victims [of online sexual exploitation]. The social media and internet worsened it,” she said.

According to the International Justice Mission, 86 percent of victims of online sexual exploitation of children were female while 14 percent were male.

“Even before the rise of technological advances, our country has been a destination for sexual offenders, who would target or manipulate women and children, especially those from impoverished areas,” the senator said.

SB 2068 amends the Anti-Child Pornography Act of 2009 and the Anti-Photo and Video Voyeurism Act of 2009, as these laws “do not capture the extraordinary features of Osaec and these are not responsive to the protection needed by using the internet,” she explained.

The bill seeks to penalize those who willfully subscribe to, join or support an internet address that hosts Osaec content; those who hire, employ or pay a facilitator to stream sexual abuse of children; and those who knowingly benefit from the commission of Osaec, among many others.