CHR reports 2.7M online child abuse cases in PH

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) reported a significant increase in cases of online sexual abuse and exploitation of children in the Philippines, rising to approximately 2.7 million as of the end of 2023.

This number is six times higher compared to 426,000 cases in 2019, with over 1.2 million reports from the US-based National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in 2020 alone.

The report highlights economic vulnerability, particularly poverty, as a primary factor contributing to this increase, noting that nearly one in every 100 children were trafficked to produce child sexual exploitation material in 2022.

Current measures are insufficient to prevent the rise of online sexual abuse, according to the CHR, which calls for adopting a child-sensitive and trauma-informed approach to ensure sufficient resources for psychosocial recovery and long-term support.

The CHR also recommends sustained awareness campaigns, poverty alleviation programs, stronger collaboration with internet service providers, enhanced oversight mechanisms, and the use of pre-recorded testimonies during legal proceedings to combat this issue.