Senate Bill No. 2209 on the protection of children against online sexual abuse and exploitation has been approved and the SaferKidsPH consortium of UNICEF, The Asia Foundation, and Save the Children Philippines, in partnership with the Australian Embassy, commends the Senate’s approval on third and final reading.
The fight against online abuse and sexual exploitation of children is the primary objective of SaferKidsPH, which aims to create a safer online environment for children by encouraging positive behaviour towards the protection of children from online abuse and exploitation; strengthening investigation, prosecution and adjudication of online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC) cases; and improving services to prevent and protect children where online exploitation is rampant.
SaferKidsPH strongly lobbied both chambers of Congress to immediately the bill into law before the end of the 18th Congress to institutionalize existing efforts and interventions in supporting the government, introduce stronger, more responsive and protective measures for children, and involve all relevant stakeholders including the public in the fight against OSAEC.
In a statement of support, the consortium is also asking lawmakers to urgently pass pending bills on child rights, namely the amendment to increase the age of statutory rape from 12 to below 16, promulgate the bill banning child marriage, and work towards the revitalization of the positive discipline bill banning all forms of corporal punishment. SaferKidsPH, through UNICEF, is also supporting ongoing consultations with children and other stakeholders for the formulation and adoption of the Magna Carta of Children.
