Drive vs online abuse of children

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‘… sadly the government has been remiss in actual implementation of these laws when it comes to the use of social media and the internet as tools of sexual exploitation of children.’

THE Philippines has many laws that guarantee protection and welfare of Filipino children, with the highest mandate emanating from the Constitution. Article XV of the Philippine Constitution provides that “the State shall defend the right of children to assistance, including proper care and nutrition, and special protection from all forms of neglect, abuse, cruelty, exploitation or other conditions prejudicial to their development.”

This basic provision and its lofty objective are operationalized in three other laws, among others: the Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act (RA 9262), Child Protection Act (RA 7610), and Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act (RA 9344).

We have a surfeit of laws protecting children, but sadly the government has been remiss in actual implementation of these laws when it comes to the use of social media and the internet as tools of sexual exploitation of children.

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It did not help any that the government had to impose lockdowns and stay-at-home policies during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when most children were physically out of classrooms and had only their electronic gadgets as access tools to the outside world.

The first 100 days of the Marcos administration maybe the start of a renewed and genuine implementation of these laws that secure our children’s welfare, in the area of online felonies.

In a recent meeting of top officials who have joined together to launch a serious campaign against online sexual offenses, Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla said the Philippines remains on top among countries with cases involving internet-based child sexual exploitation. “We are the favorite place of these perverts. We are declaring a war on this,” Remulla said during an inter-agency press conference at Malacañang, adding that the government and its partners would adapt a “comprehensive approach” to stop sexual exploitation of children on the internet.

“I think the new thing about this is the comprehensive approach. AMLC (Anti-Money Laundering Council) is here. The DICT (Department of Information and Communications) is here. We are asking the telcos to put filters into their systems. We are not leaving any stone unturned,” he said. Also contributing in the effort are the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), DILG, PNP, NBI and DSWD.

With so many government agencies and institutions working together for a good, common purpose, we believe the drive against sexual exploitation of children using the Internet will succeed this time.

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