Probe Media Foundation, Inc. (PMFI) and ChildFund Philippines on Thursday, Nov. 23 conducted a training for the media practitioners to share information about the victims of Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) and on how to make stories that "help foster a safer and better digital environment for Filipino children."

The forum entitled "#WebSafeandWise Media Training— Responsible Stories on the Digital World for and with Children" highlighted discussions on various matters that Filipino children are said to be experiencing including online abuse, exploitation, and violence.

"Though the digital environment offers many benefits, sadly, according to a nationwide study, 1 in 2 Filipino children was a victim of violence on the internet. The worst form of this violence continues to be online sexual abuse and exploitation," said PMFI.

PMFI also acknowledged the government for passing Republic Act 11930 or the Anti Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) which seeks to protect children from threats of abuse in the digital world.

Creating stories on child exploitation

Documentary host and journalist Atom Araullo, one of the speakers in the training said the most significant things that a journalist should do in documenting abused children are giving spotlight to their voices and to represent them in a way that they will not only appear as victims.

"By talking to survivors, we can uncover so many layers and human stories that can be very inspirational not only to convince people that they can help or should help but also to give survivors an opportunity to return to society, to be integrated, and again to become members of society," Araullo said.

Araullo shared one of his documentaries in the forum where a young girl had been a victim of child exploitation through sexual abuse when her mother pushed her to offer her own body for the sexual pleasure of others to gain income in return. 

Online abuses

Gems Heart Outreach Dev't Inc., Child Champion Ralph Cyrus Reputas said cyber-bullying is prevalent in social media making it seemingly become a "norm" that causes "pain" and "struggles" to the victims.

Reputas also pointed out some online abuses including instances of discrimination which he said was "common" to the LGBTQUIA+ community, as well as the proliferation of the cases of misinformation online.

Gems Heart Outreach Dev't Inc. and ChildFund Philippines have been conducting training and discussions on child abuse while their members are going to different areas to inform children about their rights and to enlighten them about the issues that they should be aware of, said Reputas.

Reputas advised the public to be entitled to their freedom of expression at the same time to know their responsibilities.

'Extreme' restrictions from guardians taking away the openness of children

Psychologist Hannah Murillo said parents or guardians of children should also assess themselves in terms of protecting their children in their activities on social media as well as on how they should react when children share a hilarious happening in their usage of social media applications.

Meanwhile, one of the participants also in the training narrated that she had just got full access to her Facebook account when she was 16 years old leading her to be "distant" when she stepped into college and making her hide some social media updates from her mother due to the fear of being scolded because of "petty" reasons.

Murillo also noted that disciplining or controlling children is also like controlling a bicycle in which higher speed can cause someone to stumble that is why "balance" is needed.