HR01118: RESOLUTION CALLING FOR AN INVESTIGATION, IN AID OF LEGISLATION, ON THE ALARMING SITUATION OF ONLINE SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF CHILDREN (OSEC) IN THE PHILIPPINES
This resolution calls for an investigation, in aid of legislation, into the alarming situation of Online Sexual Exploitation of Children (OSEC) in the Philippines, including its prevalence during the COVID-19 health crisis. The resolution highlights that the Philippines has been described as the global epicenter of the OSEC trade, with a staggering 1,300% increase in child sexual abuse materials shared and sold online from 2017 to 2018, and a 264.63% increase in cyber tips received by the DOJ-OOC during the March-May 2020 lockdown compared to the previous year. This surge is attributed to factors like poverty, easy internet access, lack of safeguards, and economic desperation.
The resolution stresses the State's duty to protect children from all forms of abuse and exploitation, referencing international legal frameworks and domestic laws, while also identifying significant gaps in existing legislation. These gaps include the failure of current laws to fully address live-streaming of OSEC content, the role of social media in OSEC, accountability for "accomplices or accessories," and the targeting of offenders who groom or lure children online without direct physical contact. The investigation aims to review policy implementation and update laws to effectively combat the complex and evolving nature of OSEC, safeguarding the nation's children.