"A huge win for child rights advocates and victims of abuse."
That's how Gabriela Party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas described the lapsing into law of the bill on the Anti-Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC).
The bill has already lapsed into law on Friday, July 29, 2022, the pro-women party-list said in a statement on Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022.
" a huge win for child rights advocates and victims of abuse who have long been lobbying for this bill amid the rampant online child sexual abuses in the Philippines," Brosas said.
Brosas, an assistant minority leader in the 19th Congress, took part in the bicameral conference committee meeting that sought to harmonize the differing provisions of the Anti-OSAEC measures from the House of Representatives and Senate.
"The Anti-OSAEC Law will not only prevent people from committing these heinous crimes, but will also make internet platforms, service providers, and internet cafes accountable should they fail in making the digital space safe for children," Brosas said.
"The measure will also institute an 'offenders registry' that will list down convicted sexual offenders of children and provides for stiffer penalties from imprisonment from six months up to lifetime jail term," she added.
Gabriela has also urged the government to speed up the crafting of the Anti-OSAEC law's implementing rules and 4egulations, especially now that more young children are being exposed to different social media platforms.