What is Online Sexual Abuse
and Exploitation of Children?


While the internet promises many benefits to children, it can also be the most dangerous place for them. The issue remains to be an alarming global concern, with millions of children having experienced being forced to perform sexual acts online, or being blackmailed for sexual purposes. Hundreds of millions of child sexual abuse materials are also shared and traded on the internet.

In the Philippines, 1 in 2 children is a victim of violence on the internet, according to a goverment study.
The worst form of this violence is online sexual abuse and exploitation.

What is happening? graph background




What is happening? graph

What is happening?


More and more Filipino children are being abused and exploited on the internet.

In 2018, the Department of Justice Office of Cybercrime received 579,006 cyber tips for the online sharing, re-sharing, and selling of child sexual abuse images and videos.

In 2019, 418,422 cyber tips were recorded, but in 2020, we have seen a 260% increase since the start of the lockdown.

Source: From the United States National Center for Missing and Exploited Children

How are Filipino Children Abused and Exploited Online?


The National Study on Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children in the Philippines found that in many cases, poverty was the primary motivation for children and families to get into this situation. Older children are promised education or money by foreigners who want their sexual pictures or videos. Younger children are lured into perpetrators’ homes with candies and chocolates.

Perpetrators

Those who are usually from foreign countries

Building the trust and confidence of the children, fostering friendship and nurturing a relationship with them is what you call “grooming.” This grooming is done by “perpetrators” online, those that pay for the videos or pictures of children to be shared and sold on the internet.

Facilitators

Those who procure children to do sexual acts online, usually parents, older siblings, or relatives

Then, there are those people who are close to the children who force or convince them to undress, perform sexual acts, rape or torture them in front of the web camera, and get the money. They are called the “facilitators.” They could be a child’s parents, relatives or neighbors.

This is a hidden crime, unknown to many but experienced more and more by Filipino children in their own homes, in their own families, and communities.

Victims

Babies as young as 3 months old were reported to be victims of online sexual abuse and exploitation.

They come from poor communities, and live with their families who are desperate to earn money. These children are forced by their parents, relatives, and neighbors to perform sexual acts in front of the camera.

Learn how children are exploited photo
Learn Why bg texture

Why are Filipino children abused and exploited online?


It is a sad fact that many people would pay for pictures or videos of children being abused or watch them live online. This is a very big illegal business worldwide and the Philippines is one of the biggest sources.

Learn more about OSAEC:


New partnership, SaferKidsPH, addresses online child abuse

Open Link

New campaign SaferKidsPH to raise awareness on online sexual exploitation of children

Open Link

SaferKidsPH advocates to stop online sexual abuse and exploitation of children

Open Link

Higher Risk of Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children During Quarantine

Open Link

NTC, UNICEF, and Telecommunications Sector collaborate to protect Filipinos online and offline

Open Link

UNICEF calls for protection of children under quarantine and children detained

Open Link

Conference Materials - Publications and Research Articles

Open File

SaferKidsPH Resources

Toys Film

Open Link

Government Partners

Open Link

TikTok Stream

Open Link

Case Study on the SaferKidsPH Consortium

Open Link

SaferkidsPH Mid-Term Review

Open Link
UNICEF Resources

My Hero is You, Storybook for Children on COVID-19

Open Link

Global Network Resiliency Platform


Open Link

How to Keep Your Child Safe at Home During the COVID-19 Outbreak

Open Link

Case Resolution and Management


Open Link

Evidences of OSAEC


Open Link

Role of Private Sector in the Promotion of OSAEC

Open Link

COVID-19 and its implications for protecting children online

Open Link

National Baseline Study on Violence Against Children in the Philippines Recommendations

Open Link

COVID-19 Tips for Parents of Children with Disabilities

Open Link

COVID-19 Tips for Parenting Teens (PDF already on site)

Open Link

Children with Disabilities and COVID-19


Open Link

COVID-19 Minimum Care Package for Children with Disabilities

Open Link

Online Safety Advice for Young Children, Parents, and Carers

Open Link
Philippine Resources

PNP-WCPC

Open Link

Stairway Foundation E-Learning

Open Link

Cyber Safe

Open Link

AlamBaU

Open Link

Save the Children Publications

Open Link
Global Resources

ThinkUKnow

Open Link

Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation

Open Link

eSafety Commissioner

Open Link

The Alliance for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action

Open Link

Advocacy Brief: Prioritizing the safety of children online during the COVID-19 pandemic (New PDF)

Open Link

Australia, PH launch 6-year program vs. child exploitation.

Open Link

UNICEF launches initiative against online sexual abuse.

Open Link

Unsettling campaign from TBWA SMP focuses on sexual exploitation of children in the Philippines.

Open Link

Confronting short film launched to end sexual abuse in the Philippines via TBWA/SMP Philippines.

Open Link

P282M earmarked for SaferKidsPH.

Open Link

8 of 10 cybercrime cases involve child exploitation, says watchdog group.

Open Link

New tech fueling cybercrime cases in PH.

Open Link

Campaign seeks to raise awareness on sexual exploitation of children.

Open Link

Australia, PH launch 6-year program vs. child exploitation.

Open Link

PH government, private sector launch joint campaign against online child sexual abuse.

Open Link

Australian gov’t leads campaign against online sexual exploitation of children in PH.

Open Link

SaferKidsPH: Sa 10 insidente ng cyber crime sa bansa, 8 ang kaso ng mga batang isinabak sa online sexual exploitation.

Open Link

Internet service providers fail to report sites transmitting child porn – DSWD.

Open Link

'SaferKidsPH' launched vs. online sexual exploitation.

Open Link

Australian Amb. @AusAmbPH leads the public launch of #SaferKidsPH, a new campaign to raise awareness on online sexual exploitation of children. @pnagovph.

Open Link

An Australian government-led consortium on Tuesday publicly launched #SaferKidsPH, a six-year program seeking to elevate Filipinos’ awareness against child online exploitation and #pornography in the Philippines.

Open Link

'SaferKidsPH' launched vs. online sexual exploitation.

Open Link

ATM: @AusAmbPHSteven Robinson AO announces the official launching of SaferKidsPH campaign to raise awareness on online sexual exploitation of children in Makati City.

Open Link

QRT: SaferKidsPH: Sa 10 insidente ng cyber crime, 8 ang kaso ng mga batang ginagamit sa online sexual exploitation.

Open Link

24 Oras: SaferKidsPH: Sa 10 insidente ng cyber crime sa bansa.

Open Link

BT: SaferkidsPH: 8 sa 10 cybercrime sa bansa, sangkot ang mga batang isinabak sa online.

Open Link

'SaferKidsPH' launched vs. online sexual exploitation.

Open Link

This short film has chilling facts about child exploitation.

Open Link

Campaign Spotlight: Stuffed Toys in Compromising Positions in Front of the Camera—TBWA SMP Delivers the Most Disturbing Film You Will Watch Today.

Open Link

Chiến dịch nêu bật tình trạng báo động vấn nạn Mua bán tình dục trẻ em trên mạng.

Open Link

Derrick Monasterio

Open Link

Janina Vela

Open Link

Cristalle Belo

Open Link

Gary V

Open Link

Save the Children

Open Link

End Rape Culture PH

Open Link

Barefoot Philippines

Open Link

Daphne Oseña Paez

Open Link

(1) RA 9775 (Anti-Child Pornography Act of 2009)

(2) RA 7610 (Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act)

(3) RA 9208 (Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003)

(4) RA 10364 (Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2012)

(5) RA 9231 (An Act Providing for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labor and Affording Stronger Protection for the Working Child)

(6) RA 9344 (Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006)

(7) RA 10175 (Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012)