THE Commission on Human Rights (CHR) yesterday said it has recorded nearly 2.75 million cases of online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC) in 2023, an increase of more than a hundred percent compared to the cases documented three years earlier.
Citing a report published by its Child Rights Center last February 11, the CHR said there was a “dramatic surge” in OSAEC cases after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“In 2019 (before the pandemic), the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children recorded 426,000 cyber tipline reports,” the CHR said in a statement.
“This figure nearly tripled in 2020 to 1,297,000 cases, and continued to escalate in 2023, with 2,740,905 reported incidents,” the CHR also said.
The CHR said “economic vulnerability,” particularly poverty, remains the “primary driver” of OSAEC, “with many cases involving perpetrators who are family members or close relatives.”
“The trauma caused by abuse, compounded by fear, shame, and the emotional toll of legal proceedings, often deters child victims from seeking help or pursuing justice,” the CHR added.
CHR said the government is bound by international obligations to ensure every child is protected, respected and supported, citing the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Optional Protocol on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution, and Child Pornography.
It also noted Republic Act 11930 or the Anti-OSAEC Law.
“Despite these legal protections, significant challenges persist,” the CHR said.
It also noted gaps in the handling of OSAEC cases, from reporting mechanisms and rescue operations to rehabilitation and reintegration efforts.
“These gaps not only worsen the trauma experienced by child victims, but also contribute to continued underreporting, particularly in cases where parents are the perpetrators,” the CHR said.
The CHR urged the government and concerned institutions to step up efforts to protect the interests of children.
“Rescue and rehabilitation efforts must adopt a child-sensitive and trauma-informed approach, ensuring sufficient resources for psychosocial recovery and long-term support,” it said.
The commission also cited the importance of providing “appropriate psychological and financial interventions” not only to the victims but to family members who may have committed the abuse, as it acknowledged the need for “comprehensive rehabilitation to break cycles of exploitation.”
“To prevent re-traumatization during legal proceedings, the CHR also recommends the use of pre-recorded testimonies in place of repeated in-person recounting of abuse,” the CHR added.
The CHR also recommended sustained OSAEC awareness, poverty alleviation and livelihood programs for vulnerable communities; stronger collaboration with internet service providers to detect and disrupt exploitation activities; promotion of offline and community-based recreational activities for children; and enhanced oversight and accountability mechanisms through the Congressional Oversight Committee.
The CHR said it remains steadfast in its commitment to upholding and advancing the rights of Filipino children.
“Addressing OSAEC requires a whole-of-society response. We call on government agencies, civil society, the private sector, and local communities to work together to build a digital environment where children are safe, valued, and empowered,” it added.
