Protect children from online sexual abuse, exploitation

The internet, source of so much information and opportunities for growth, is showing its “dark side” through the many reports on cybercrimes. Scams that defraud people of hard-earned money; disinformation that has caused misguided decisions; and online sexual abuse and exploitation of children are among the cybercrimes that have been in the news lately.

Of all the cybercrimes, online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC) and child sexual abuse and exploitation materials (CSAEM) require special attention because our children are the future.

On Thursday, April 25, President Marcos, who “was visibly distressed, very bothered and clearly stressed with the information that was relayed to him” ordered government agencies concerned to further intensify the efforts and “show no mercy to offenders in eradicating all forms of child abuse.”

The President ordered the Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Philippine National Police (PNP), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and other agencies in the national coordinating center to intensify the fight against OSAEC and CSAEM, and “come down on perpetrators with the full weight of the law.”

Fighting online sexual exploitation of children is not easy because as authorities have said, “It is a borderless and hidden crime, it happens mostly in the home and is likely facilitated by trusted guardians and sometimes parents.”

Families will likely cover up because sexual abuse is not an easy topic to talk about. Studies have shown that 23 to 38 percent of the children who are victims do not tell anyone about their bad experience.

In 2022, a study conducted by UNICEF, ECPAT International, and Interpol showed that 20 percent of Filipino children aged 12 to 17 – or two million children – who are using the internet had been victims of online sexual abuse and exploitation. In 2016, another UNICEF study revealed that the Philippines was the center of child sex abuse materials production in the world.

We have laws to guard against these crimes, one of them Republic Act 11930, the Anti-online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children and Anti-child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials Act. The DOJ reported that convictions have increased since the passage of the law in 2022.

We laud the President’s swift action to order government agencies to “show no mercy” to offenders and we trust that the dedication of the law enforcement authorities will prevent the increased incidence of this crime against our children.

The problem also needs the attention of the private sector, especially in the communities, churches, and homes. Talking about the presence of this crime victimizing our children should be encouraged to deepen awareness and initiate action. With the family’s and the community’s support, victims can be encouraged to talk and report the crime.

There have been other initiatives to fight OSAEC. In 2019, Saferkidsph, an initiative of the Australian government, in partnership with the UNICEF, Save the Children, and The Asia Foundation, was launched to “address online sexual exploitation and abuse of children by raising national awareness of the problem and supporting stronger implementation of laws and policies that protect children.” In 2020, during the pandemic when an increase in this form of cybercrime was seen, the UNICEF and partners worked with the National Telecommunications Commission to expand the awareness program through text blast.

This is the time for the private sector to get into partnerships to fight this crime that threatens the next generation of Filipinos.