Protection of the young from all forms of abuse and exploitation remains to be one of the most important duties of the State. With the shift to digital and online learning hastened by the pandemic, more children are in virtual platforms, which has led to increased vulnerabilities to online exploitation and cyberbullying.

In the past years, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has noted an increase in online sexual exploitation and abuse of children (OSAEC) and have consistently called for greater government action for the protection of children against online abuse (https://bit.ly/3IZzulj). Thus, the Department of Education (DepEd)’s recent addition of cyber safety modules to help children learn the basics on internet safety is a long overdue but laudable initiative in enhancing educational safety nets to children on the dangers of improper internet usage, bullying, and online content sharing.

We are hopeful that knowledge learned from these modules would translate to more children avoiding harmful internet interactions and a decrease in OSAEC cases.

In continuing our call for greater legislative action against OSAEC (https://bit.ly/3oiRduN), CHR yet again reiterates our call for the passage of House Bill (HB) No. 10703 or the “Anti-Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children. HB No. 10703 provides strengthened protection for children against OSAEC-related crimes by requiring internet intermediaries and other internet or payment service providers to take down or remove websites the stream illegal content of abuse of minors. By increasing penalties of those found guilty, the legislative measure also intends to deter the others from the commission of crimes.

The passage of this bill shall demonstrate the resolve of the present administration to stamp out child abuse and make online spaces a safe space for children. As the country’s Gender and Children’s Ombud charged to monitor government actions upholding gender and children’s rights, the Commission calls for urgent Executive action for the passage of this bill into law as the plight of children in our country deserves more attention for protection of the young against abuse. ###