A STUDY on “self-facilitated” livestreaming of child sexual exploitation has revealed that Filipino girls ages 13 to 15 are being lured into producing and sharing explicit content online.
Some children are enticed into performing sexual acts with offers of money, gadgets or emotional attention, the study by Plan International Pilipinas found.
The term “self-facilitated” is drawn from international standards and does not imply informed or willing participation from the child, the report clarified.
In the Philippines, online child sexual exploitation, or OCSE, is a social menace that has proliferated for years. Not surprisingly, the country has earned the reputation as one of the most prominent global hubs for livestreamed child sexual abuse.
The Covid pandemic saw a surge in OCSE cases as internet use rose sharply due to lockdowns and travel restrictions.
As children become more absorbed on the internet, they become more vulnerable to online abuse.
“Significant numbers of children are estimated to be exploited… with these numbers increasing rapidly, despite updated legislation in the last few years in the Philippines, including the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act, Cybercrime Prevention Act and the Anti-Child Pornography Law,” noted a paper published in the Children and Youth Services Journal in May 2023.
Fueling the increase in OCSE cases are “poverty, English language proficiency, broad access to information and communications technology, as well as highly established international remittance services that facilitate payments.” The Plan International Pilipinas’ findings highlight the fact that online child sexual exploitation is not only a technology issue but a “systemic failure requiring coordinated response from local governments and frontline workers.” It said online predators lurk in digital platforms like Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, Discord, Zoom and even popular games such as “Mobile Legends” and “Blockman GO.” According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef), in 2021 alone, 2 million children in the Philippines were subjected to online sexual abuse and exploitation.
The victims often develop mental health issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and anxiety. Their families, too, are affected, experiencing vicarious trauma effects.
Interestingly, yet another study found that 51 percent of the perpetrators were women, mostly family members or caregivers of the victims within their homes.
Friends and neighbors of the victims were also found to be involved.
While the government and international agencies have expanded child protection efforts and social services, “rates and harms of OSCE in the Philippines are burgeoning and struggles remain in responding to the needs of survivors and their families,” according to the Children and Youth Services article.
The authors also doubted the effectiveness of education and public awareness campaigns on OCSE. Law enforcement response is far from satisfactory.
They described the country’s child protection system as “frequently inconsistent and under-resourced.” In its own assessment of the OCSE issue in the Philippines, Unicef blamed the low disclosure of cases on the stigma that it fosters. “Only 0-4 percent of victims ever reported, and only 0-3 percent know how to report to the police or to helplines,” Unicef said.
The UN agency said 44 percent of the victims “do not know where to get help if they or a friend were subjected to sexual abuse or harassment online.” It underscored the importance of adults, children and the whole of society in fostering an understanding of children’s online safety. The bottom line is: Ensuring a safe online environment for every child is everyone’s digital responsibility.
Last year, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. issued a directive for the government to strengthen its efforts against the sexual exploitation of children online.
“For us to allow this to happen in our country, it brings to me an overwhelming sense of shame, because being in government, being in public service, we are not doing enough. We must do more,” the President said.
Protecting children from online predators means stronger enforcement of child protection laws.
Not to be overlooked, however, is the key role parents play in preventing and addressing online child sexual exploitation.
Supportive and informed parenting helps children recognize and respond to potential dangers as they navigate the internet.
