The Australian-New Zealand Chamber of
Commerce (ANZCHAM) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with UNICEF, on behalf
of the SaferKidsPH Consortium, to help address the online sexual abuse and
exploitation of children (OSAEC) in the Philippines. SaferKidsPH is an
Australian Government Initiative that is implemented in partnership with Save
the Children Philippines, The Asia Foundation, and UNICEF Philippines.
OSAEC is a borderless and complex
crime that requires a coordinated and multi-sectoral response from all
governments and stakeholders, including the private sector. Under the
partnership with SaferKidsPH, ANZCHAM commits to supporting advocacy,
volunteerism, and fundraising activities to keep Filipino children safe online.
“Children have the right to be protected from all forms of violence, abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Addressing online sexual abuse and exploitation of children is a top priority of UNICEF's Program of Cooperation with the Philippine Government for 2019 to 2023. Together with our partners, we are committed to improving child protection systems to address and prevent OSAEC,” said UNICEF Philippines Country Representative Oyunsaikhan Dendevnorov. In the Philippines, UNICEF is supporting a targeted program to strengthen the capacity of government systems, parents, caregivers, and community members to protect children from all forms of online sexual abuse and exploitation.