Sustain efforts on anti-child abuse, says senator

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian is urging the government to continue its massive efforts against online sexual abuse and exploitation of children.

He said that the government is now better equipped to address these concerns on all forms of child trafficking and abuses, given the passage of Republic Act 11862 or the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2022and the Anti-Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children and RA 11930 or Anti-Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials Act.

“Part of our efforts is to ensure the safety and welfare of the children and make sure that internet would be a safe space for them since it has been used in different types of violence and abuses,” Gatchalian said.

Citing the study titled “Disrupting Harm in the Philippines: Evidence on online child sexual exploitation and abuse” with 950 child respondents, Gatchalian said 20 percent of Internet-using children aged 12 to 17 were victims of grave instances of online sexual exploitation and abuse during the past year.