Gatchalian reiterates call for strong crackdown on child trafficking

With the conclusion of the National Awareness Week on the Prevention of Child Abuse and Exploitation, Senator Win Gatchalian is reiterating his call for a stronger crackdown on various forms of child trafficking, including the online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC).

Gatchalian pointed out that cracking down on child traffickers entails effective enforcement of laws that took effect last year: the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2022 (Republic Act No. 11862) and the Anti-Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) and Anti-Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials (CSAEM) Act (Republic Act No. 11930).

The Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2022, which Gatchalian co-authored and co-sponsored, gives law enforcers additional tools to pursue human traffickers both online and offline. Under the law, internet intermediaries such as social media networks and financial intermediaries will be liable for allowing the use of their platforms for trafficking.

The Anti-OSAEC and Anti-CSAEM Act, which Gatchalian also co-authored, also gives law enforcers additional tools for the surveillance and investigation of OSAEC cases. It likewise increases the responsibilities of social media platforms, electronic service providers, and financial intermediaries, among others, to block CSAEM materials and cooperate with law enforcers.

"Tungkulin nating ipatupad ang mga batas upang matiyak ang kaligtasan ng ating mga kabataan mula sa iba't ibang anyo ng trafficking. Tungkulin nating tulungan ang mga biktima na makabangon muli at magkaroon ng pag-asa," said Gatchalian.

According to the report Disrupting Harm in the Philippines: evidence on online child sexual abuse and exploitation, 20% of internet users aged 12-17 in the Philippines were victims of grave online sexual abuse and exploitation in 2021. When scaled to the size of the population, it is revealed that up to 2 million were subjected to these harms. The study had 950 respondents.

In the 2022 Trafficking in Persons Report by the United States State Department, the Philippines was able to retain its Tier 1 Status. This means the Philippines was able to meet minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking.

The report, however, identified persisting needs such as additional personnel and additional training on handling digital evidence. It also recommended increased support for programs providing specialized care for trafficking victims, including victims of OSAEC.

Gatchalian: Pagsugpo sa child trafficking paigtingin pa

Sa pagtatapos ng pagdiriwang ng National Awareness Week on the Prevention of Child Abuse and Exploitation, muling nanawagan si Senador Win Gatchalian para sa mas maigting na pagsugpo ng iba't ibang anyo ng child trafficking, kabilang ang online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC).

Ayon kay Gatchalian, mahalagang matiyak ng pamahalaan ang epektibong pagpapatupad ng mga batas para matugis ang mga child traffickers, kabilang dito ang Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2022 (Republic Act No. 11862) at ang Anti-Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) and Anti-Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials (CSAEM) Act (Republic Act No. 11930).

Isa si Gatchalian sa mga may akda at co-sponsor ng Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2022 na pinalalakas ang kakayahan ng mga law enforcers na tugisin ang mga human traffickers online o offline. Sa ilalim ng naturang batas, mananagot ang mga internet intermediaries kabilang ang social media networks at financial intermediaries kung hahayaan nilang magamit ang kanilang mga platforms para sa trafficking.

Isa rin si Gatchalian sa mga co-author ng Anti-OSAEC and Anti-CSAEM Act na pinalalakas naman ang kakayahan ng mga law enforcers para sa imbestigasyon ng mga kaso ng OSAEC. Sa ilalim ng batas, may dagdag responsibilidad sa mga social media platforms, kabilang ang electronic service providers at financial intermediaries na harangin ang mga CSAEM materials at makiisa sa mga law enforcers.

"Tungkulin nating ipatupad ang mga batas upang matiyak ang kaligtasan ng ating mga kabataan mula sa iba't ibang anyo ng trafficking. Tungkulin nating tulungan ang mga biktima na makabangon muli at magkaroon ng pag-asa," ani Gatchalian.

Ayon sa ulat na pinamagatang Disrupting Harm in the Philippines: evidence on online child sexual abuse and exploitation, 20% ng mga kabataang 12-17 taong gulang ang naging biktima ng matinding online sexual abuse and exploitation noong 2021. Kung itutugma ito sa populasyon, lumalabas na aabot sa 2 milyong bata ang dumanas ng ganitong mga uri ng pang-aabuso. May 950 na kalahok sa naturang pag-aaral.

Sa 2022 Trafficking in Persons Report ng United States State Department, napanatili ng Philippines ang Tier 1 status nito. Nangangahulugan ito na napanatili ng Pilipinas ang mga minimum standards para sa pagsugpo ng trafficking.

Sa kabila nito, tinukoy ng ulat ang mga nananatiling hamon kabilang ang pangangailangan sa dagdag na personnel at dagdag na training para sa pag-handle ng digital evidence. Niremokenda rin ng ulat ang dagdag suporta sa mga programang nagbibigay kalinga sa mga biktima ng trafficking, kabilang ang OSAEC.