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While the internet offers new opportunities in education amid the pandemic, it has also become a platform for threat and sexual abuse among children, an official of the United Nations Children鈥檚 Fund (Unicef) said on Wednesday.
In a statement, Unicef鈥檚 Philippine representative Oyunsaikhan Dendevnorov said it was 鈥渋mperative that we continue our efforts in safeguarding our children on digital platforms.鈥�
She also reiterated the need to support the government 鈥渋n employing a whole-of-government approach鈥� in the fight against online sexual abuse of children.
In December last year, the Department of Justice (DOJ) reported receiving more than 2.8 million tips about online child sexual exploitation throughout 2021. This is more than double the number of the previous year鈥檚 tally at 1.3 million.
The DOJ鈥檚 Office of Cybercrime started official investigations for 268 cases, a jump from the 73 cases it handled in 2020.
The Philippines has previously been identified by Unicef as the 鈥済lobal epicenter of the livestream sexual abuse trade.鈥�
SaferKidsPH program
To help ensure the safety of young people in digital platforms, Unicef launched SaferKidsPH program, an Australian government initiative that seeks to mitigate online sexual abuse and exploitation of children.
In line with Safer Internet Day on Feb. 8, monthlong activities such as a forum with internet service providers and a webinar will be conducted to tackle online sexual abuse and the protection of children online.
Based on the National Study on Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children in the Philippines, poverty is the main reason why children and families resort to these activities.
Perpetrators, usually foreigners, offer older children education or money in exchange for sexual pictures or videos.
Families, parents or relatives then become the facilitators of these abuses and force the children to undress or perform sexual activities in front of the camera.
鈥淭his 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,鈥� SaferKidsPH said on its website.
Unicef urged the government and civil society 鈥渢o synergize and to put children鈥檚 rights and protection at the forefront of digital efforts.鈥�
The organization also called on the House of Representatives and Senate to pass a bill on online sexual abuse and exploitation of children and asked for its 鈥渆ffective implementation if enacted.鈥�