LGUs, schools urged to strengthen child protection as online sexual abuse cases rise during pandemic

Save the Children Philippines (SCP) has urged local government units, schools, and communities to strengthen their protection services as online child sexual abuse cases rise during the pandemic.

According to the children’s rights organization, the pandemic is no longer a health crisis alone but a child rights crisis as well.

It said more children were at risk of online sexual abuse and exploitation now, with some families resorting to “easy money due to deepening poverty” while minors were still not allowed to leave their homes.

“Online sexual abuse and exploitation of children is a silent pandemic that has permanent and devastating effects on children’s mental health and psychosocial well-being,” said SCP chief executive officer Alberto Muyot.

During the enhanced community quarantine from March to May 2020, the cases of online sexual abuse and exploitation of children in the Philippines increased by 264.6% or over 202,605 more reports, compared to the 76,561 cases during the same period in 2019, according to the Department of Justice as cited by SCP.

To commemorate the annual Safer Internet Day for Children in the Philippines, the organization called on parents, guardians, and other relatives to protect their children from any form of abuse or exploitation.

“Parents and other adults who are taking care of children should provide the necessary support and guidance to help protect children from online sexual abuse and exploitation particularly now that they are increasingly going online because of the pandemic,” said SCP child protection advisor Wilma Banaga.  

According to a study released last year, the prevalence rate of internet-based child sexual exploitation in the Philippines tripled within three years.

Led by nongovernment organization International Justice Mission, the study said the country had become a global hotspot of online sexual exploitation of children. – Kaela Malig/RC, GMA News