Philippines is a global hotspot for online sexual exploitation of children, with eight times more case referrals than other countries. The latest International Justice Mission report also showed that majority of the victims are female with ages ranging from 10 to 15 years and some even under 1 year old. Sadly, a lot of the identified perpetrators are the children’s own parents or close relatives.
This information is alarming knowing that a lot of children are staying home due to the lockdown, with potential perpetrators.
Before the lockdown, our partner Honor 1000, completed Online Safety Campaign sessions in selected ‘hotspot’ schools, reaching a total of 950 primary school students. They also recently conducted a community-wide Human Trafficking Awareness Campaign (HTAC), which was attended by 109 parents. These efforts inform both children and their parents on the dangers of online exploitation and how to avoid it and where to go for help if they ever need it.
Several more community-wide HTAC events were lined up, although these were postponed due to the pandemic. These events will resume once lockdown is lifted and communities’ safety from any health risk is ensured.
Source: International Justice Mission, May 2020. Online Sexual Exploitation of Children in the Philippines: Analysis and Recommendations for Governments, Industry and Civil Society.
WE NEED YOUR HELP
Over the next months, we’ll see a surge of human trafficking and cybersex crime cases as this current pandemic pushes a lot of vulnerable people into desperate measures. Check out the links below to know how you can help!
You can also sign up for our August 2020 Stop Trafficking 5K event and setup your own fundraiser:
US$50, we can fund one cyber safety training session for 50 students or 30 moms
US$500, we can fund one complete cyber safety program for 50 students
US$5,000, co-sponsor an entire program for a high-risk school (with over 500 students)
Our Partners
We recently shared Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) prevention materials to 100 individuals near our Microfinance Program office.
63 SHARES
Marilyn, a client of the One Hope Microfinance Program, is thriving with her third loan. Her food stand near a school feeds students and teachers daily.
35 SHARES
Through our Manila Slum Program, Jei returned to school and graduated, while her mother, Jing, completed a cookery course and is now seeking stable work.
31 SHARES
The school leaders at Payatas B fully support our mission to bring online safety education to their school, empowering students to recognize and report abuse.
8 SHARES
As we expand our microfinance program, each client will now receive an OSAEC (Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children) activity booklet with their loan.
57 SHARES
Last month, we invited Joanna and Vic to inspire our student beneficiaries with stories of perseverance, overcoming financial struggles, and pursuing their dreams.
67 SHARES
