Child exploitation continues as PH tops most cases of cybersex trafficking in Southeast Asia, 2nd worldwide

ARTICLE: Hannah Kristine Juan | JANUARY 29, 2024

Beneath the surface: A hidden epidemic of child exploitation and online sexual abuse thrives in the shadows. | via Hannah Kristine Juan

Higher developments in internet accessibility make way for the Philippines to grapple with a disturbing surge in children involved in online sexual abuse and exploitation. Children were forced to perform sexual acts in front of the camera and the videos were sold and shared on different social media platforms.

In 2023, the United Nations (UN) reported that the Philippines ranks second in most cases of online sexual abuse globally behind India. Aside from being the highest in Southeast Asia, the country has become the global epicenter of the livestream sexual abuse trade with children being victims of enforced exploitation with roots since 2016.

The Online Sexual Exploitation of Children (OSEC) reported that the cases of abuse rose by 280 percent in 2022, surpassing the 260 percent cases in 2020.

In research conducted by the Philippine National Police (PNP), cybercrime fell as one of the biggest illegal businesses worldwide. The Philippines was toppled as one of the active sources of this crime.

Perpetrators within; a borderless crime

The International Justice Mission and the University of Nottingham Rights Lab conducted a survey last 2022 exposing that 471,416 Filipino children were trafficked to produce new sexual videos that will be sold online by perpetrators.

Children are supposed to be safe inside and outside their houses. However, according to the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordination (CICC), 25% of these suspects are close contacts of victims or are perpetrated by a family member. This abuse often takes place inside the victim's home, which makes it more traumatizing.

The Safe Kids Philippines stated that children's closest people force them to perform sexual online activities in exchange for money or food. Global Partnership to End Violence Against Children, launched by the UN Secretary-General, also studied that sexual predators from other countries exploited kids between 12-17 years old.

In June 2023, the Women and Children Protection Center (WCPC) rescued minors from Australian predators in Taguig City. The Australian Border Force found inappropriate pictures and videos of various Filipina children on Facebook Messenger and mobile phones of the Australian predator.

By this, the WCPC has strengthened its operations against exploitation and sexual abuse of children in the country, including coordination with its counterparts abroad.

Gov’t lacking tools to combat crimes

During a briefing on the proposed budget for sexual and exploitation abuse in 2023, Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Secretary Ivan John Uy underscored that extreme poverty is the root of sexual and exploitation abuse. Tracking down the perpetrator, he said, is badly needed by the country to lessen cybersex trafficking cases in the coming years.

The country lacks necessary tools to combat the rampant and continuous cases of cybersex and to locate online predators, the DICT reported. This is rooted in the growth of consecutive cases of online abuse in 2019 as the country increased 202,605 reports exceeding the 76,561 cases in the same year.

Aiming to reduce child exploitation cases online, DICT appealed for a P5.6 million increase last September after proposing a P8.729 billion budget for 2024.

The proposed fund will be allocated and divided to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking Secretariat (IACAT) and National Coordination Center (NCC) Against OSAEC and Anti-Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials (CSAEM) Secretariat.

Determined to combat the rampant exploitation and abuse in the country, the Philippine government was pinning its hopes on two recently enacted laws and increased local action. The Anti-Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) Act and the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2022 (Republic Acts 11930 and 11862) equipped authorities with stronger tools to investigate, prosecute, and punish perpetrators.

The local government units (LGU) also released a statement to contribute to the national government's efforts against OSEC by urging the citizens to report any suspected cases of sexual exploitation to the task force, activating the Barangay Child Protection Council and drafting city and municipal ordinances that support law enforcement and child protection efforts.