CHR calls for heightened protection of children vs. sexual abuse

MANILA – The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on Monday urged the government to boost efforts to combat child abuse and exploitation.

CHR spokesperson Jacquelin de Guia made this call in commemoration of this year’s Child Sexual Abuse Awareness Week, which she said comes “in the wake of a pandemic that has led to the unprecedented economic crisis of the worst Philippine post-war Gross Domestic Product slump”.

De Guia noted the need for the continued provision of psychosocial services, health, and financial aid to protect young individuals from being lured into online exploitation as means to provide for themselves and their families.

“Child exploitation reflects a failure to protect the most vulnerable. The marginalized sector, now more than ever, needs the government’s utmost protection in unprecedented times like this,” she said.

She then cited a study by the Anti-Money Laundering Council which reported an increase in financial transactions linked to online sexual exploitation of children, reaching 27,217 transactions from January to June 2020 or 2.5 times more than the 10,627 reported in 2019.

This report substantiates the findings of the Department of Justice which has noted a 264-percent increase in online sexual exploitation of children (OSEC) as the country continues to grapple with the pandemic.

“Celebrating this year’s Child Sexual Abuse Awareness Week means that all efforts must be exerted by the government to protect all minors from all forms of abuse,” de Guia said.

The commission, meanwhile, welcomed the current administration’s move to sanction erring internet service providers for their failure to stop online child pornography.

CHR said reiterates its support for the passage of Senate Bill 735 or the Human Trafficking Preventive Education Program Act by Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, which aims to orient Filipino children on their rights and vital protection measures against OSEC.

Under the national observance of Presidential Proclamation No. 731, the “National Awareness Week for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation” or also known as “Child Sexual Abuse Awareness Week, is commemorated every second of February.

“Let us all step-up our efforts to respond, protect and prevent the continuing cases of child abuse,” de Guia said.