Child-focused agency World Vision raises its concern about reports published by the Philippine Online Student Tambayan (POST) about students selling sensual photos and videos online using specific hashtags.
Amid the community quarantine, the Department of Justice (DOJ) – Office of Cybercrime reported that online sexual exploitation of children (OSEC) reports tripled from March to May 2020 (relative to the same period in 2019). Loss of income is forcing parents/caregivers to take drastic measures, as 3% of respondents said they will send their children to work (which could include high-risk jobs).
World Vision also stressed the need for the Inter-Agency Council Against Child Pornography and the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking, led by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and DOJ respectively, to conduct a thorough investigation of the reported cases, and to apprehend the perpetrators including the takedown of harmful social media accounts and online sites.
“While we are after the criminal offenders, we also need to ensure the provision of appropriate support to the children who have been lured by this rising trade involving minors,” says Jezreel Hannah Domingo, Child Protection Manager of World Vision.
“Our educational system should also ensure that child protection committees in all schools are established and learners have access to information on cyber-safety including responsible use of social media and mechanisms to report incidents of abuse,” Domingo added. They are also calling on schools to strengthen their child protection committees to help identify and report child abuse and exploitation cases.
Early last year, World Vision, in partnership with DepEd launched the Abutin Na10 campaign which aimed to raise resources to support its distance learning modalities as part of the larger implementation of the department’s Basic Education Learning Continuity Plan.
Lawmakers including the Senate and the House of Representatives are also urged to prioritize and address the gaps in the current legal framework to strengthen the teeth against OSEC in the Philippines.
Local government units must ensure that their local councils for the protection of children and Violence against Women and Children Desks are in place and remain functional to address child protection concerns in their localities.
Report incidents of child abuse and sexual exploitation through the following:
Inter-agency Council Against Trafficking
Call: 1343 (in Manila); 02 1343 (outside Metro Manila)
Report online: www.1343actionline.ph
Philippine National Police (PNP) Hotline Patrol, Anti-Cybercrime Group
Call: 911, (02) 722-0650
Text: 0917-847 5757
Philippine National Police, Anti-Cybercrime Group
Report online: angelnet.ph
Email: pnp.acg.angelnet@gmail.com
National Bureau of Investigation, Cybercrime Division
Call: (02) 523 8231 to38 (local 3454, 3455)
Email: ccd@nbi.gov.ph
Department of Justice, Office of Cybercrime
Call: (02) 523 0628, (02) 521 8345, (02) 524 2230
Email: cybercrime@doj.gov.ph
Inter-agency Council Against Child Pornography
Report Online: http://www.iacacp.gov.ph/report-to-us-2/
Or go to the nearest barangay BCPC, VAWC and local Social Welfare Office
To know more about World Vision, visit www.worldvision.org.ph. For updates, follow /worldvisionph on Facebook and @worldvisionphl on Instagram.
