Economic vulnerability, particularly poverty, remains the primary cause why many Filipino children become victims of sexual abuse and exploitation, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) said.

In its human rights situation report, the CHR highlighted the alarming rise in online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC) in the Philippines. The report also contained urgent recommendations to address the growing crisis.

Published by the CHR's Child Rights Center last Feb. 11, the report raised alarm over the surge in OSAEC cases because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Comparing figures obtained from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), the CHR noted that there were 426,000 cyber tipline reports in 2019 but the figure nearly tripled in 2020 with 1,297,000 cases. The numbers further escalated in 2023 with 2,740,905 reported incidents.

The CHR lamented that poverty is one of the main reasons why children are pushed to OSAEC. In many cases, the perpetrators are family members or close relatives, it said.

It noted that the trauma caused by abuse, compounded by fear, shame, and the emotional toll of legal proceedings often deters child victims from seeking help or pursuing justice.

"As a State Party to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), the Philippines is bound by international obligations to ensure that every child is protected, respected, and supported," the CHR pointed out.

"This duty is further reinforced by the Optional Protocol on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution, and Child Pornography, which mandates comprehensive support for child victims -- including medical, psychological, and financial assistance -- as well as the imposition of strict penalties on offenders," it said.

While the country has Republic Act No. 11930 or the Anti-OSAEC Law, the CHR said that this legal protection has failed to deter significant challenges to OSAEC. Reporting mechanisms and rescue operations to rehabilitation and reintegration efforts continue to be elusive to victims, it said.

The gaps on the reporting mechanisms and rescue operations not only worsen the trauma experienced by child victims, but also contribute to continued underreporting, particularly in cases where parents are the perpetrators, it pointed out.

Thus, the CHR called anew on "the government and all concerned institutions to uphold the principle of the best interests of the child as a paramount consideration in all proceedings involving children."

"Rescue and rehabilitation efforts must adopt a child-sensitive and trauma-informed approach, ensuring sufficient resources for psychosocial recovery and long-term support," it said.

At the same time, the CHR said another important factor is the provision of appropriate psychological and financial interventions not only to affected children but also to family members who may have committed abuse, since acknowledging the need for comprehensive rehabilitation is one way to break cycles of exploitation.

To prevent re-traumatization during legal proceedings, the CHR recommended the use of pre-recorded testimonies in place of repeated in-person recounting of abuse.

It also recommended "sustained OSAEC awareness campaigns; poverty alleviation and livelihood programs for vulnerable communities; stronger collaboration with internet service providers to detect and disrupt exploitation activities; promotion of offline and community-based recreational activities for children; and enhanced oversight and accountability mechanisms through the Congressional Oversight Committee."