NGO raises concern over sexual exploitations

The Cebu Against Child Sex Tourism has expressed concern over the continued sexual abuses on children perpetrated either in the family, online, in tourism, and in trafficking.

In a statement, CAST said that despite several arrest of perpetrators in cybersex and tourists as well as the rescue of children, abuses remained a highlight in the many issues confronting children.

Other issues include lack of opportunities for education, family breakdown, and youth adventurism in drugs and petty crimes.

According to CAST, children fall prey to sexual abuse perpetrated by people they know or those that are close to them.

It said that young girls who are barely in their teens are seen escorting tourists in malls and resorts, becoming wards of expatriates who sexually abuse them while they are supposedly sheltered and educated.

All these things are happening amid education campaigns and information dissemination in various communities and local government units on child protection and safety.

"Children are sexually abused not only because they are marginalized as to age, but also because the powerful man can make them as a tool for sex with society accepting this role," the statement reads.

CAST said there has to be a change in this role to address gender-based violence permeating and translating into sexual abuse of children.

"Traditional Institutions like the family, the church and media, as well as governments and civil society organizations must begin educating towards change in culture that will stop seeing women as objects of sex," it added.

CAST also looks into the role of the youth in helping change the setup and into youth empowerment to involve them in the process.

The youth, it said, has a significant role in influencing their fellow youth towards child protection and in changing traditional roles that empower women, as empowerment must come with it the capacity to be involved in decision making, as well as access to decent employment.

The organization is hopeful that they will be able to help eliminate commercial sexual exploitation of children, trafficking and other sexual abuses through changing the structures that make exploitation possible.