SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian is calling for a continued and intensified crackdown on online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC) amid the observance of National Awareness Week for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation.

Gatchalian previously filed a resolution seeking an inquiry into the proliferation of OSAEC. He emphasized the need to strengthen existing measures to create a safer online environment for children and hold perpetrators accountable.

The senator underscored the importance of ensuring that child protection systems are fully functional in addressing reporting, response, prosecution, and rehabilitation for victims of OSAEC and commercial sexual abuse or exploitation materials.

He also stressed the need for stronger cooperation between local government units, law enforcement agencies, and non-government organizations through the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking. This would help ensure that policies and programs are effectively implemented.

A 2022 report by the International Justice Mission revealed that nearly half a million Filipino children were trafficked online via live streaming. The Anti-Money Laundering Council flagged P1.56 billion in suspicious transactions related to OSAEC, resulting in 182,729 suspicious transaction reports from 2020 to 2022.

Of the 17,600 recorded cases of child rights violations in 2023, a substantial portion involved online sexual abuse and exploitation of children.

Gatchalian also reiterated the importance of strengthening international cooperation to improve data sharing, cross-border prosecution, and accountability among digital platforms, including social media companies, to proactively detect and remove harmful content. He further emphasized the need to raise public awareness on the dangers of OSAEC.

In 2023, various telecommunications companies reported blocking 902,000 URLs and websites containing child sexual abuse and exploitation materials.

Gatchalian is a co-author and co-sponsor of the Anti-OSAEC and Anti-CSAEM Act (Republic Act No. 11930) and the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2022.