CSOs and gov’t agencies join hands to end online sexual exploitation of children
Despite the availability of legal instruments to protect the rights of children at the global level, cases of Online Sexual Exploitation of Children (OSEC) are still rapidly increasing. OSEC is the production, for the purpose of online publication, of visual depictions (e.g. photos, videos, live streaming) of the sexual abuse or exploitation of a minor for a third party who is not in the physical presence of the victim, in exchange for compensation. The United Nations (UN) estimated that there are about 750,000 child predators online at any given moment.
During the learning session on OSEC held on November 15, 2018 at Villa Lacida Beach Resort in Magoong, Linamon, Lanao del Norte which was participated by members of the Support Group on Violence against Women and Children (SGVAWC), a platform for women and children’s rights advocates in Iligan City and Lanao del Norte comprised of non-government organizations and government agencies, it was pointed out that there are about 673 online child traffickers in the Philippines. From 2011-2018, it was monitored that 74.8 of the perpetrators of OSEC are parents, relatives and close family friends of the victims. Through the cooperation and coordination among different stakeholders, 361 victims have been relived.
During the learning session on OSEC held on November 15, 2018 at Villa Lacida Beach Resort in Magoong, Linamon, Lanao del Norte which was participated by members of the Support Group on Violence against Women and Children (SGVAWC), a platform for women and children’s rights advocates in Iligan City and Lanao del Norte comprised of non-government organizations and government agencies, it was pointed out that there are about 673 online child traffickers in the Philippines. From 2011-2018, it was monitored that 74.8 of the perpetrators of OSEC are parents, relatives and close family friends of the victims. Through the cooperation and coordination among different stakeholders, 361 victims have been relived.
According to Senior Police Officer 3 (SPO3) Lyrma N. Cajegas of Iligan City Police, OSEC involves child abuse and exploitation hence qualified as a form of trafficking. “Although the Philippines has ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1995; Optional Protocol on the Sale of the Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography in 2000; and, Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons especially Women and Children in 2002- it has not gone far in terms of preventing child abuse and exploitation,” she added.
OSEC threatens the future generation. Its impact deeply scarred the child victims. Often times victims experience trauma, anxiety and emotional arousal; feel guilt, shame or self-blame, mistrust and betrayal, depression and hopelessness. They also suffer physical aches and pains. They usually confuse right over wrong and sometimes exhibit suicidal tendency and sexualized behavior.
It has been observed that cases of OSEC are rampant in developing countries. In the Philippines, it persists primarily because of entrenched poverty, high level of internet access and widespread knowledge of the English language which is widely used in communicating with the predators online.
OSEC threatens the future generation. Its impact deeply scarred the child victims. Often times victims experience trauma, anxiety and emotional arousal; feel guilt, shame or self-blame, mistrust and betrayal, depression and hopelessness. They also suffer physical aches and pains. They usually confuse right over wrong and sometimes exhibit suicidal tendency and sexualized behavior.
It has been observed that cases of OSEC are rampant in developing countries. In the Philippines, it persists primarily because of entrenched poverty, high level of internet access and widespread knowledge of the English language which is widely used in communicating with the predators online.
Iligan City is one of the hotspots for OSEC. According to Rizalina Amesola, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of Ranao Women and Children Resource Center which the lead convener of SGVAWC, “the increasing cases of violence against women and girls is very alarming especially in Lanao del Norte while Online Sexual Exploitation of Children is rampant in 3 barangays in Iligan City.”
After the learning session, SGVAWC network agreed to intensify the cooperation to end OSEC. Among the steps identified in response to the problem were to partner with like-minded organizations; educate schools, families and communities; strengthen and implement ordinances, children’s code; policy advocacy and resource allocation for anti-OSEC activities; and long term placement of OSEC survivors.
After the learning session, SGVAWC network agreed to intensify the cooperation to end OSEC. Among the steps identified in response to the problem were to partner with like-minded organizations; educate schools, families and communities; strengthen and implement ordinances, children’s code; policy advocacy and resource allocation for anti-OSEC activities; and long term placement of OSEC survivors.