Sen. Risa Hontiveros seeks to strengthen laws to curb the spread of online child abuse, which has increased dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to Save the Children Philippines, cases of sexual abuse and exploitation of children in the Philippines increased by 264.6 percent or 202,605 more during the imposition of the enhanced community quarantine from March to May 2020, compared to the 76,561 cases during the same period in 2019.
STRESSING that there is an extreme need to protect the children especially now that they are off the streets and off schools due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and are therefore, now more exposed to sexual predators on the internet, Senator Risa Hontiveros has filed a bill seeking to strengthen the protection of children against online sexual abuse and exploitation
The proposed measure, Senate Bill No. 2068 or the Anti-Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children Law or Anti-OSAEC Law seeks to amend the Anti-Child Pornography Act of 2009 and the Anti-Photo and Video Voyeurism Act of 2009.
The senator said the said laws "are not responsive to the protection needed by using the internet.”
“Even before the rise of technological advances, our country has been a destination for sexual offenders, who would target or manipulate women and children, especially those from impoverished areas,” said the senator, who chairs the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality.
“Matagal nang nagiging biktima ang ating kababaihan at kabataan. Pinalala lang ng social media at internet,” she added.
Hontiveros’ bill seeks to penalize those who willfully subscribe to, join or support an internet address that hosts OSAEC content.
Those who hire, employ, or pay a facilitator to stream sexual abuse of children as well as individuals who “knowingly benefit” from the commission of OSAEC are also penalized under the proposed law.
Duties and responsibilities are also introduced for Internet Service Providers (ISPs), social media networks, financial institutions and intermediaries, and establishments or facilities used for OSAEC, according to Hontiveros.
According to Save the Children Philippines, cases of OSAEC in the Philippines increased by 264.6 percent or 202,605 more reports during the imposition of the enhanced community quarantine from March to May 2020, compared to the 76,561 cases during the same period in 2019.
“Online sexual abuse and exploitation of children is a silent pandemic that has permanent, and devastating effects on children’s mental health and psychosocial well-being,” Atty. Alberto Muyot, CEO of Save the Children Philippines, said in a statement. (ONT)