Norway, PH deepen cooperation against online child abuse
The Philippines and the Norwegian government work together on protecting children. (Photo: Norwegian Embassy)
The fight against online sexual abuse and exploitation of children does not end at national borders. Neither, increasingly, does law enforcement.
Recognizing the global nature of these crimes, the Norwegian Police Service and the Philippine National Police (PNP) signed a Memorandum of Understanding on July 2 to strengthen cooperation in combating online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC).
The agreement was signed by Norwegian Deputy Police Commissioner Lars Erik Alfheim and PNP Chief Police General Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr., formalizing closer collaboration in intelligence sharing and investigations aimed at identifying offenders, rescuing victims, and preventing further abuse.
The partnership builds on the work of the Nordic Liaison Office, established in the Philippines in 2020. Since then, information provided by Norwegian authorities has supported numerous law enforcement operations across the country, leading to the rescue of children from ongoing abuse while also identifying and arresting perpetrators in Norway who commissioned the crimes.
The new agreement is expected to strengthen those efforts by allowing both countries to exchange information more efficiently in cases involving online child sexual abuse.
“Crime knows no borders, nor can our cooperation do so,” Alfheim said. “This agreement gives us better opportunities to prevent sexual abuse of children by identifying and stopping abusers where crime occurs before more children are exposed.”
For Norway, the agreement reflects the importance of international cooperation in addressing cyber-enabled crimes that often involve offenders, victims, and digital evidence spread across multiple jurisdictions.
The Philippines has likewise intensified its response to OSAEC in recent years. In 2024, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. called for stronger action against online child exploitation, while the government implemented the rules and regulations of Republic Act No. 11930, the Anti-Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) and Anti-Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials (CSAEM) Act.
Norwegian Ambassador Christian Halaas Lyster said protecting children remains one of the embassy’s foremost priorities.
“Strengthening the cooperation between the Philippines and Norway in the fight against OSAEC is a top priority for the Norwegian Embassy in Manila,” he said. “Through our cooperation, we work together to create awareness of this challenging problem and prevent victims from being abused and keep our children safe.”
The agreement reflects a growing recognition that protecting children in the digital age requires not only stronger national laws, but also sustained international partnerships capable of responding to crimes that increasingly transcend borders.