Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children reaches epidemic levels in the Philippines

Posted on 29 April 2024

Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) in the Philippines has reached epidemic levels, groundbreaking research from Justice and Care and partners has revealed. A new report has found the issue – which includes live streaming of child abuse – is sustained by global demand, primarily from customers across Europe, other Western countries and parts of South Asia. It is run like a ‘cottage industry’, with traffickers mentoring others on how to set up similar ‘businesses’ and attract paying foreigners, who are often found on social media, dating sites and adult cybersex sites.   Read our new report   The findings are the result of two years of work from our team, together with researchers from Dublin City University and De La Salle University. They serve as a wake-up call to all who hold responsibility to combat this abuse, with researchers putting forward key recommendations to help improve the harrowing situation. They include:  A widespread education and community awareness raising plan within the Philippines. Greater global regulation of the online platforms that enable the crime. A step up of regulation, detection and suspicious transaction reporting by the financial institutions which indirectly facilitate and profit from OSAEC. Tougher investigations, more prosecutions and harsher sentences for the foreign customers who create the demand and often go unpunished.   Children’s lives are being destroyed by these horrendous crimes. Together, we must protect them and ensure those responsible face severe consequences. These findings would not be possible without your support – thank you.   Nicole Munns International Systemic Change Director at Justice and Care

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