Online Child Sexual Exploitation in the Philippines: Moving beyond the current discourse and approach

Melinda Gill

doi:10.14197/atr.2012211610

Abstract

Online child sexual exploitation (OCSE) is an issue of increasing concern in the Philippines. The current local discourse concerning OCSE is that it primarily involves children being sexually exploited by adults within their household or in ‘dens’, with ‘raid and rescue’ operations and public awareness campaigns as the most publicised strategies employed to address the issue. Whilst the true prevalence of OCSE is unknown, ongoing research and the experience of many stakeholders suggest that self-generated sexual content involving children is common. However, this is not being widely discussed or addressed. This article argues that more holistic, long-term, and community-based interventions targeted at vulnerable families and children are needed that address the deeper determinants of OCSE in the Philippines.

Highlights

Online child sexual exploitation (OCSE) is a growing, global issue
OCSE refers to situations where a child ‘takes part in a sexual activity in exchange for something (... or ... the promise of such), from a third party, the perpetrator, or by the child him/herself ’ and where the sexually exploitative images and materials at some stage involve the online environment, whether being ‘produced, bought, sold, possessed, distributed, or transmitted.’[1]. OCSE is highly interconnected with other forms of child sexual exploitation, including sexual exploitation that occurs whilst the victim is online or the grooming of children online for either online or offline sexual exploitation.[2]
High profile awareness and online safety campaigns portray OCSE as being perpetrated against young children by adults, usually within the same household.[7]

Summary

Introduction

Online child sexual exploitation (OCSE) is a growing, global issue. OCSE refers to situations where a child ‘takes part in a sexual activity in exchange for something (... or ... the promise of such), from a third party, the perpetrator, or by the child him/herself ’ and where the sexually exploitative images and materials at some stage involve the online environment, whether being ‘produced, bought, sold, possessed, distributed, or transmitted.’[1].

Results

Conclusion