The Philippines is facing a devastating crisis as online child sexual abuse cases surge, leaving a trail of scarred and vulnerable young lives. With 86% of teenagers having online access, the anonymity of the internet has created a hunting ground where perpetrators exploit and prey on innocent children.
The country has become a global hub for the production of child sex abuse material. Alarmingly, around 80% of Filipino children are at risk of online sexual exploitation, with some cases even involving their own parents as facilitators, according to a UNICEF report. Impoverished children from rural areas are the main victims of online child sexual abuse and exploitation.
Several sociocultural and economic factors contribute to the high rate of online child exploitation in the Philippines. These include widespread English proficiency, easy access to technology, established financial transaction systems, and cultural tolerance that fails to recognize the seriousness of sexual exploitation, UNICEF highlighted.
In 2023, over 2 million children fell victim to online sexual abuse and exploitation. Despite reporting channels being available, stigma surrounding the issue leads to alarmingly low disclosure rates. In fact, only 0-4% of victims report their experiences and just 0-3% know how to seek help from authorities or helplines.
Furthermore, a significant majority of children, 55%, are uncertain of how to report harmful content on social media platforms, and 44% of children are unaware of where to turn to for help if they or a friend fall victim to online sexual abuse or harassment. Of further concern is that 50% of children have added strangers as friends on social media, with 13% eventually meeting these individuals in person.
Tragically, some children are being denied an education and are instead forced into performing sexual acts for online predators.
According to Ambassador Evangelina A. Bernas, Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations, there is an urgent need to redirect efforts towards targeting the sources of online abuse in order to shut them down.
“The Philippines is often labeled as a “global hotspot” for online child exploitation. However, it’s crucial to shift focus towards identifying the true sources of the problem: the perpetrators. To effectively address this issue, we must target the root, the perpetrators themselves, while also working to protect and support the victims”, she said.
Last year, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. issued a strong directive to intensify efforts to combat this issue. As a result, the Department of Justice, Philippine National Police, and other law enforcement agencies were ordered to step up their campaigns against online child abuse.
The Philippines experienced a surge in online child sexual abuse during the pandemic which was driven in part by widespread job losses and economic hardship. A cultural misconception that online harm is less damaging also contributed to the problem. As a result, explicit child content is being sold online for as little as US$15 to US$20.
