Full enforcement of laws vs online child exploitation urged

THE Commission on Human Rights (CHR) urged the Philippines to shift from awareness campaigns to sustained enforcement as online child sexual abuse and exploitation continue to grow alongside wider digital access and persistent poverty.

The CHR said that future child protection efforts will depend on how effectively authorities implement existing laws and strengthen safeguards in both physical and online spaces, warning that risks have become more complex and entrenched since the pandemic.

“Protecting children now requires sustained vigilance and robust safeguards across both offline and online spaces,” it said in a statement on Sunday.

Data from the commission’s Child Rights Center show more than 2.7 million cyber tipline reports were recorded in 2023, highlighting a sharp rise in online sexual abuse cases driven by economic vulnerability, family involvement, and chronic underreporting.

The CHR stressed the need for full enforcement of Republic Act No. 11930, the Anti-OSAEC (online sexual abuse and exploitation of children) law, alongside the country’s obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, to ensure accessible, child-sensitive, and trauma-informed systems for reporting, rescue and prosecution.

It said protecting victims will require wider use of measures such as prerecorded testimonies to prevent re-traumatization, as well as expanded psychosocial services and livelihood support for households at most risk.

“Beyond annual observance, protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation demands a consistent and collective willingness to confront uncomfortable truths, challenge harmful norms, and strengthen protection systems so they can respond more effectively to evolving risks,” said the CHR.

It also called for stronger collaboration with internet service providers and digital platforms to detect and disrupt online exploitation, while continuing to monitor related risks such as child labor, displacement, and early marriage. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana