End online sexual abuse!!

Reference: https://www.unicef.org/philippines/press-releases/childrens-rights-consortium-seeks-sustained-efforts-against-online-sexual-abuse Multisectoral consortium SaferKidsPH, funded by the Australian Government and implemented by UNICEF, Save the Children Philippines, and the Asia Foundation, appealed to the government to continue strengthening child protection systems during its culminating event to mark the completion of the program. The six-year program started in 2019, with the goal of reducing online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC). A study in 2022 revealed that two in ten, or around two million internet-using children in the Philippines aged 12 to 17 had experienced OSAEC in the past year alone. However, less than three percent reported these to the authorities. But encouraging signs of progress have emerged, with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) reporting a drop in cyber tip reports from the Philippines from over 2.7 million reports in 2023 to just over 1.7 million in 2024. The culminating event showcased the program’s achievements, stories about the program’s beneficiaries, and a ceremonial turnover of SaferKidsPH initiatives to the Philippine government for continued implementation, represented by Supreme Court Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo, Department of Social Welfare and Development Undersecretary Emmeline Villar, Department of Justice National Coordination Center Against OSAEC and CSAEM OIC Executive Director Barbara Mae Pagdilao-Flores. Officials from the Philippine National Police, Department of Education, Department of Information and Communications Technology, Council for the Welfare of Children, and local government officials were also present.