QUEZONCITY, May 29, (PIA) - - The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) calls on the public to closely monitor the safety of children against online sexual exploitation and other forms of abuse specially during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic crisis.
This came after a recent arrest of a mother who was found to be using her 7 children in cyber pornography.
In a statement, the DSWD said the threat of COVID-19 will not diminish their commitment to address online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSEC).
“OSEC is a growing crime that requires a coordinated global and national response,” DSWD said.
To address OSEC in the country, the Department is closely working with the Philippine National Police (PNP) and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to track and apprehend the perpetrators and rescue the victims of this heinous act.
They are also working with the local government units (LGUs), especially with the Local Councils for the Protection of Children (LCPCs), to increase awareness, prevention, and early detection of OSEC cases. Rescued OSEC victims are placed in DSWD custody and provided with psychosocial interventions.
Through the DSWD led Inter-Agency Council Against Child Pornography (IACACP) comprised of government agencies and non-government organizations, dialogues and rescue operations are conducted to ensure the safety of children online and offline.
A statement posted at the website of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) stated the disruption to family lives, friendships daily routines and the wider community can have negative consequences on children’s well-being, development and protection.
It also stated that quarantine measures, including school closures and restrictions on movements disrupt children's routine and social support which may make children more vulnerable to violence and psychosocial distress.
Most vulnerable are the children in socio-economic exclusion and often times victims of online sexual exploitation. Lockdown is a very opportune time for traffickers and offenders as they have more time to spend online with the children.
UNICEF cited the following risks on spending more time online: online sexual abuse, cyber bullying, risk taking online behavior, potentially harmful content like inciting suicide and other self harm; misinformation and risk to privacy.
DSWD, as chair of IACACP, stressed that in this time, it is even more crucial to closely monitor the safety of children even inside their homes. It encouraged the public to be vigilant and immediately report to the authorities all forms of abuses against children through the following hotlines;
(1) DSWD Recovery and Reintegration Program for Trafficked Persons (RRPTP) Hotline (02) 8931-9141; (2) Text DSWD <space> blockchildporn<space> URL address and send to 2327or Text blockchildporn <space> URL address and send to 0918-9122813; (3) Commission on Filipino Overseas TIP Hotline 1343; (4) PNP Patrol 911; (5) PNP Women and Children Protection Center: 0919 777 7377; (6) PNP Anti Cybercrime Group: Tel. No. (02) 723-0401 local 5354 Fax No. (02) 414-1560, 0926-084-3792; (7) NBI: (02) 523-8231 to 38 local 3454 to 3455; and (8) DOJ-Office of Cybercrime Tel. no. (02) 524-82-16. (DSWD/PIA-NCR)
Source: Philippines Information Agency (pia.gov.ph)
0 Comments