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.
“OSAEC is everyone’s responsibility
to fight against and the ANZCHAM business community is committed to bringing
the conversation to our members’ respective organisations and eventually in
their employees’ own homes. With more than 350 ANZCHAM member companies, we
will continue to educate our members on how we can create a safer online
environment for every child,” said Daniel Alexander, President of ANZCHAM.
“The work of SaferKidsPH isn’t
limited to our governments and civil society partners. To succeed we must also
involve communities, families, media, other development partners, and you, the
business community. This could be through raising the awareness of your
employees on this issue, promoting child-sensitive business practices, and
supporting safe spaces and practices in schools and communities,” said Richard
Sisson, Chargé d’affaires of the Australian Embassy in the Philippines.
According to the Philippine Kids
Online Survey supported by the Australian Government and conducted by UNICEF in
2016, nearly half of child respondents said the internet is not safe for them.
Two in 10 children are vulnerable to OSAEC, and boys are as vulnerable as
girls. In 2018, at least 600,000 child abuse materials of Filipino children,
including infants, were shared and sold online.
The vulnerabilities of Filipino children and their families have increased because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Children and youth are more at risk of OSAEC during this quarantine period as they, consequentially, spend more time online. Also, the economic strain on families can make them and their children more vulnerable to engaging in or falling victim to OSAEC. The Government has seen an increase of about 260 percent in reports of online child abuse materials from March to May 2020.
About UNICEF
UNICEF promotes the rights and
wellbeing of every child, in everything we do. Together with our partners, we
work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into
practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and
excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere.
For more information about UNICEF and its work for children in the
Philippines, visit www.unicef.ph. Follow UNICEF
Philippines on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
About ANZCHAM
Philippines
ANZCHAM, one of the oldest and most
active chambers of commerce in the country, supports and promotes business relationships
between the Philippines, Australia, and New Zealand. It aims to develop and
maintain a strong partnership and cooperation with people and industries that
are instrumental in the growth and promotion of the economy, businesses, and
trade.
About SaferKidsPH
One out of 2 children has experienced
cyber violence. SaferKidsPH is an Australian Government initiative, implemented
through the pioneering consortium of Save the Children Philippines, The Asia
Foundation, and the UNICEF, to reduce online sexual abuse and exploitation of
children in the Philippines. SaferKidsPH works with children and their
families, the Philippine Government, civil society, and the private sector to
ensure that children are safe and protected online. For more information, visit
www.saferkidsph.org.
