DSWD: Child sexual abuse remains rampant

CEBU, Philippines — Despite the government’s effort to combat sexual abuse and exploitation against children, the Department of Social Welfare and Development said these crimes remain rampant.

In line with this, DSWD strongly supports the National Awareness Week for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation which started February 8 and will end today.

This year’s celebration with the theme, “We must Protect Boys Just as we Protect Girls,” focuses on the launching of the Blue Umbrella Day (BUD).

BUD is an international movement aims at protecting boys that emerged from a cross-country study that included India, Guyana, Paraguay, and the Philippines.

As part of its support endeavor, DSWD-7 will hold a BUD on February 15, 2021, where every division or unit is encouraged to bring a blue umbrella and open it for the whole day.

Meanwhile, DSWD and other members of the Inter-Agency Council Against Child Pornography led the celebration of the Safer Internet Day Philippines yesterday.

The SIDPH is one of the strategies of the government, through ICACP, which creates public awareness on the need to ensure the protection of children from risks and abuses brought by misuse of cyberspace or lack of awareness on internet safety.

“Nowadays, the internet plays a major part of the society. It has a great influence on our everyday lives from getting information, communication, games and all,” said DSWD-7 regional director Rebecca P. Geamala in a statement.

This year’s theme “Bagong Normal: Ligtas na Internet for All!” is in line with the year’s international theme, “Together for Better Internet.”

It is celebrated as a call for action to promote better and safer internet use for everyone especially for children and young people. It was introduced in 2004 in various countries in Europe and is currently being observed by more than 100 countries globally.

Gaemala said that one of the major threats is the online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC), which needs to be addressed. This is aside from cyberbullying, online pornography, hacking, and a lot more.

According to the International Justice Mission, in combating the livestreaming of child sexual abuse, internet service providers (ISPs) have an important role to play, along with tech platforms and financial sector institutions. — GMR (FREEMAN)