The Supreme Court (SC) has reassured its commitment to protect children from online sexual abuse and exploitation (OSAEC) through judicial reforms and partnerships aimed at building a safer digital and legal environment for them.

Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo aired the SC’s reassurance during the recent event of SaferKidsPH in Makati City.

“We will continue to hold the door open to a better tomorrow for every Filipino child,” Gesmundo assured.

SaferKidsPH is an Australian government initiative delivered through the consortium of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), The Asia Foundation, and Save the Children Philippines.

A press briefer issued by the SC’s Office of the Spokesperson stated that Chief Justice Gesmundo highlighted how the SC has been working diligently to strengthen the judicial framework for child protection.

The SC has issued the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the Social Aspects of the Family Courts Act.  The rules guide the courts in handling child-related cases with sensitivity and efficiency.

It also published the Bench Book for Family Courts, a comprehensive resource to help judges make child-centered decisions.

Just recently, the SC as a full court approved the Rule on Family Mediation, which promotes restorative justice and family unity.

It also institutionalized, through the Justice Sector Coordinating Council, the Victim-Sensitive Guidelines to shield victims, especially children, from further trauma and ensure early access to social services.

“The Guidelines provides a more systematic access to social services by the victims as soon as their needs arise, even pre-litigation,” Gesmundo said.  

He also cited the setting up of the first ever Anti-OSAEC TriCity Justice Zone in Cagayan de Oro City, Ozamis City, and Iligan City, to focus on addressing the urgent and pervasive problem of OSAEC in the Philippines. A second zone is due for setting up in Region VIII, he added.  

An Anti-Human Trafficking Justice Zone had been set up earlier in Zamboanga City.

Gesmundo pointed out that all the judicial efforts are aligned with the the SC’s five-year Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations 2022-2027 (SPJI), which emphasizes accessible, efficient, and inclusive justice.

“A key pillar of this plan is enhancing judicial processes for vulnerable populations, particularly children, through technology and innovative practices,” he said.

Thus, he said the SPJI adopts technology to streamline case management and ensure timely resolution of cases involving vulnerable children.

However, despite all the reforms and innovations, “more work lies ahead,” the Chief Justice said.

 “As we celebrate these achievements, we recognize that our work is far from complete. The event today, involving the Department of Justice, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and the Council for the Welfare of Children, among other organizations, symbolizes our collective resolve to sustain and expand the impact of SaferKidsPH,” he stressed.

Describing SaferKidsPH as a “beacon of hope” in the campaign against OSAEC, Gesmundo urged continued action to ensure that “every Filipino child grows up in a world where their safety, dignity, and potential are protected.”

Joining the Chief Justice during the event were the Ambassador of Australia to the Philippines, Her Excellency Hae Kyong Yu; DSWD Undersecretary for International Affairs Emmeline Aglipay Villar; Department of Justice National Coordinating Center Against OSAEC Executive Director Barbara Mae Flores; UNICEF Representative Behzad Noubary; and The Asia Foundation Country Representative Sam Chittick.

The event, titled Pagdiriwang ng mga Tagumpay ng SaferKidsPH, brought together national and local government leaders, civil society organizations, private representatives, youth leaders, and child protection advocates.

It marked the culmination of the SaferKidsPH program’s six-year journey toward building a safer and more secure future for every child.