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?
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 more about OSAEC:
New partnership, SaferKidsPH, addresses online child abuse
Open LinkNew campaign SaferKidsPH to raise awareness on online sexual exploitation of children
Open LinkSaferKidsPH advocates to stop online sexual abuse and exploitation of children
Open LinkHigher Risk of Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children During Quarantine
Open LinkNTC, UNICEF, and Telecommunications Sector collaborate to protect Filipinos online and offline
Open LinkUNICEF calls for protection of children under quarantine and children detained
Open LinkConference Materials - Publications and Research Articles
Open FileSaferKidsPH Resources
Toys Film
Open LinkGovernment Partners
Open LinkTikTok Stream
Open LinkCase Study on the SaferKidsPH Consortium
Open LinkSaferkidsPH Mid-Term Review
Open LinkUNICEF Resources
My Hero is You, Storybook for Children on COVID-19
Open LinkHow to Keep Your Child Safe at Home During the COVID-19 Outbreak
Open LinkRole of Private Sector in the Promotion of OSAEC
Open LinkPhilippine Resources
PNP-WCPC
Open LinkStairway Foundation E-Learning
Open LinkCyber Safe
Open LinkAlamBaU
Open LinkSave the Children Publications
Open LinkGlobal Resources
Australia, PH launch 6-year program vs. child exploitation.
Open LinkUNICEF launches initiative against online sexual abuse.
Open LinkUnsettling campaign from TBWA SMP focuses on sexual exploitation of children in the Philippines.
Open LinkConfronting short film launched to end sexual abuse in the Philippines via TBWA/SMP Philippines.
Open LinkP282M earmarked for SaferKidsPH.
Open Link8 of 10 cybercrime cases involve child exploitation, says watchdog group.
Open LinkNew tech fueling cybercrime cases in PH.
Open LinkCampaign seeks to raise awareness on sexual exploitation of children.
Open LinkAustralia, PH launch 6-year program vs. child exploitation.
Open LinkPH government, private sector launch joint campaign against online child sexual abuse.
Open LinkAustralian gov’t leads campaign against online sexual exploitation of children in PH.
Open LinkSaferKidsPH: Sa 10 insidente ng cyber crime sa bansa, 8 ang kaso ng mga batang isinabak sa online sexual exploitation.
Open LinkInternet service providers fail to report sites transmitting child porn – DSWD.
Open Link'SaferKidsPH' launched vs. online sexual exploitation.
Open LinkAustralian Amb. @AusAmbPH leads the public launch of #SaferKidsPH, a new campaign to raise awareness on online sexual exploitation of children. @pnagovph.
Open LinkAn 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 LinkATM: @AusAmbPHSteven Robinson AO announces the official launching of SaferKidsPH campaign to raise awareness on online sexual exploitation of children in Makati City.
Open LinkQRT: SaferKidsPH: Sa 10 insidente ng cyber crime, 8 ang kaso ng mga batang ginagamit sa online sexual exploitation.
Open Link24 Oras: SaferKidsPH: Sa 10 insidente ng cyber crime sa bansa.
Open LinkBT: SaferkidsPH: 8 sa 10 cybercrime sa bansa, sangkot ang mga batang isinabak sa online.
Open Link'SaferKidsPH' launched vs. online sexual exploitation.
Open LinkThis short film has chilling facts about child exploitation.
Open LinkCampaign Spotlight: Stuffed Toys in Compromising Positions in Front of the Camera—TBWA SMP Delivers the Most Disturbing Film You Will Watch Today.
Open LinkChiến dịch nêu bật tình trạng báo động vấn nạn Mua bán tình dục trẻ em trên mạng.
Open LinkDerrick Monasterio
Open LinkJanina Vela
Open LinkCristalle Belo
Open LinkGary V
Open LinkSave the Children
Open LinkEnd Rape Culture PH
Open LinkBarefoot Philippines
Open LinkDaphne 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)