Nation

HOUSE PANEL ADOPTS RECOMMENDATIONS VS ONLINE SEXUAL ABUSE OF CHILDREN

/ 19 March 2021

THE HOUSE Committee on Welfare of Children on Wednesday adopted the recommendations of the committee report on several measures that call for an investigation of the rising cases of sexual exploitation of children in the country.

One of the recommendations was to include a general provision on Online Sexual Exploitation and Abuse of Children in the Internet Safety Bill as well as the role and responsibilities of internet providers in curbing OSEAC.

The panel also adopted the recommendations, conclusions and findings presented by different stakeholders including the National Telecommunications Commission, telecommunications companies and Commission on Human Rights.

Tingog Sinirangan Partylist Representative Yedda Marie Romualdez, chairman of the committee, said the recommendations contained in the draft committee report were gathered from the various stakeholders and other government agencies during previous meetings.

Romualdez added that valuable inputs from the meetings would serve as guides in shaping legislation that could properly address OSEAC.

“The country has become the global epicenter of online abuse with the Covid19 pandemic facilitating the surge of OSEAC [online sexual exploitation and abuse of children] cases,” Romualdez said.

She added that collaborative efforts from various sectors are needed to combat the alarming rise of sexual exploitation and abuse among the Filipino youth.