Making meaning of irreconcilable destruction of innocence: National humanitarian professionals exposed to cybercrime child sexual exploitation in the Philippines

Abstract

BackgroundSex-cybercrimes against children in the Philippines rose by over 400 % during the first year of the Covid-19 pandemic exponentially increasing challenges for carers of children, law enforcers, and prosecutors. ObjectiveBurnout, primary, and secondary traumatic stress are some of the potential mental health risks for child protection carers. How longevity of career is sustained, is unknown. Participants and settingThis idiographic study explored both positive and negative interpretations of frontline workers in the Philippines exposed to sex-cybercrimes against children. MethodsThe protocols of Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis guided data collection through semi-structured interviews, transcription, and analysis. ResultsOne superordinate theme: Irreconcilable destruction of innocence, mercy and justice, and the passionate self; highlights the integral struggle that emerged from these participants' roles in child protection. Their faith philosophy of compassion and forgiveness contrasted with the unfathomable corruption and exploitation they witnessed, and their role in removing child victims from perpetrator family members to serve justice. These internal conflicts necessitated a critical need to self-care against psychological vulnerability. Longevity of career emerged from a co-existence of traumatic distress and psychological growth allowing them to redefine their faith and confront the unfathomable with hope, self-valuing, and purpose. ConclusionsJustice and mercy were juxtaposed integral conflicts threatening the psychological wellbeing of these participants. Ineffective organisational support aggravated their traumatic distress as did the lethargy with which world governments' engage in effective controls against online crimes of child sexual exploitation which has meteorically risen as a result of the global coronavirus pandemic.