The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) joins the nation in observing the 30th National Awareness Week for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation on 8-14 February 2026, as declared under Proclamation No. 731. For three decades, this observance has affirmed the State’s duty—anchored in Republic Act No. 7610, or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act—to safeguard children from all forms of abuse, neglect, cruelty, and exploitation.
Today, while the country continues to confront longstanding issues of child sexual abuse, online sexual abuse and exploitation has become a pervasive and deeply rooted problem. It worsened as digital access expanded and grew even more urgent during the pandemic and post-pandemic years. Protecting children now requires sustained vigilance and robust safeguards across both offline and online spaces.
Escalating threats in the digital age
Findings of the CHR’s Child Rights Center in its 2025 report align with national and international reports showing a steep rise in Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC). In 2023 alone, over 2.7 million cyber tipline reports were recorded—an alarming increase from pre-pandemic levels. Poverty-driven vulnerabilities, the involvement of family members, and the trauma associated with abuse continue to contribute to chronic underreporting.[1]
The Philippines’ obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and its Optional Protocols—and, domestically, under Republic Act No. 11930 or the Anti-OSAEC and Anti-Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials Act—require the State to ensure accessible, child-sensitive, and trauma-informed mechanisms for reporting, rescue, rehabilitation, and justice.
Upholding the best interests of the child
As the country’s national human rights institution, the CHR underscores that the best interests of the child must guide all proceedings and interventions. This includes trauma-informed investigations and rehabilitation, such as using pre-recorded testimonies to avoid re-traumatization. Strengthening community-based psychosocial support, not only for victims but also for families in high-risk environments, is also essential to breaking cycles of abuse.
The Commission further stresses the importance of poverty alleviation and livelihood support for vulnerable households; continued monitoring of child displacement, child labor, and child marriage; and stronger collaboration with internet service providers and digital platforms to detect and disrupt online exploitation. Equally vital are sustained information and awareness initiatives empowering children, caregivers, schools, and communities.
A call for national solidarity: strengthening partnerships for child protection
The CHR acknowledges the growing multi-stakeholder movement against child sexual abuse and exploitation. In 2025, initiatives such as the CHR’s joint solidarity forum on child protection with Ateneo de Manila University, the presentation of evidence-based research at the Department of Justice–led children’s summit, and the continued implementation of the Kabataan Karapatan Caravan, underscore the vital role of government agencies, academe, civil society, and communities in advancing children’s rights. The CHR remains committed to amplifying evidence, strengthening partnerships, and monitoring child rights conditions across the country at all times, in keeping with its mandate to promote and protect the rights of the child.
Child sexual abuse is a profound violation of human rights. It strips children of dignity, safety, and the opportunity to thrive. Beyond annual observance, protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation demands a consistent and collective willingness to confront uncomfortable truths, challenge harmful norms, and strengthen protection systems so they can respond more effectively to evolving risks.
As we mark this awareness week, the CHR urges every institution and individual to pursue meaningful, sustained action that ensures every child’s safety is treated not as an aspiration, but as a non-negotiable standard. ###
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[1] Human Rights Situation Report Addressing Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children in the Philippines (CHR VI No. POL2025-005) https://chr.gov.ph/chr-resource/human-rights-situation-report-addressing-online-sexual-abuse-and-exploitation-of-children-in-the-philippines-chr-vi-no-pol2025-005/