Experts ask countries to step up efforts vs child abuse

Six United Nations appointed human rights experts are calling on countries to intensify efforts to combat the global emergency that is child exploitation and abuse.

Millions of boys and girls worldwide continue to fall prey to these crimes, they wrote in a statement to mark the first commemoration of the World Day for the Prevention of and Healing from Child Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Violence.

The experts appealed to countries to step up efforts to combat child exploitation and abuse, stressing the importance of healing and justice for victims and survivors.

“This is an opportunity to eliminate all forms of child sexual exploitation, abuse and violence, both online and offline, to enhance the protection of children and to bring perpetrators of exploitation and abuse to justice,” they said.

The experts, who were appointed by the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, said the current global context continues to exacerbate the situations that expose children to exploitation, abuse and violence.

In response, all states must ensure that the views of children are heard and that their perspective is taken into consideration during the course of reparation, they said.

As special rapporteurs, they are mandated to monitor and report on specific human rights concerns globally, such as the sale and sexual exploitation of children, and the causes and consequences of violence against women and girls.

Special rapporteurs are independent of any government or organization, operate in their individual capacity, and work on a voluntary basis.

Sustain momentum

Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian meanwhile highlighted the need to sustain the momentum of the government crackdown on online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC).

In his message on World Children’s Day yesterday, Gatchalian said: “Part of our promotion of the safety and well-being of young people is ensuring the safety of the internet, especially when it is used for various types of violence and abuse. In recent months we have passed important laws to intensify the suppression of the abuse of our youth using the internet.” He noted that 20 percent of internetusing children, aged 12-17, are suffering from grave instances of online sexual exploitation and abuse as cited in the study, “Disrupting Harm in the Philippines: Evidence on online child sexual exploitation and abuse.”

But Gatchalian said that the government is now better equipped to combat OSAEC as well as other forms of child trafficking and abuse with the passage of Republic Act 11862 (Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2022) and RA 11930 (Anti-Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials Act) and the Anti-Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children.