Dissemination Forum on Preliminary Findings of Justice and Care Project

Justice and Care, with the Social Development Research Center (SDRC), disseminated the preliminary findings of the “Facilitation of Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) in the Philippines: Analysis and Recommendations for Better Detection, Deterrence, and Prevention” at the Orchid Garden Suites, Manila on April 18, 2024.

The study was conducted by the following team members: Ms. Nicole Munns, Director of International Systemic Change, Justice and Care; Dr. Maggie Brennan (Principal Investigator), Dr. Elaine Byrnes, and Ms. Cydney Sheridan, from the School of Psychology, Faculty of Science and Health, Dublin City University; Dr. Melvin Jabar, Dr. Maria Caridad Tarroja, and Dr. Zaldy Collado from SDRC, De La Salle University; and, Prof. Derek Perkins, Professor of Clinical Psychology, Royal Holloway, University of London.

Team members Ms. Munns, Dr. Brennan, Dr. Tarroja, and Dr. Collado were present during the event. Dr. Raymond Girard R. Tan, DLSU Vice President for Research and Innovation was also present and opened the event. More than 70 attendees from government, non-government organizations and international agencies involved in child and women welfare protection, the anti-human trafficking sector, the anti-cybercrime group sector, and the financial sector.

Dr. Brennan discussed the results and recommendations of the study. The results revealed the common profile of the OSAEC victims and facilitators, the pathways leading to OSAEC activity and the modus operandi of OSAEC facilitators and their relationships. At the same time, she also discussed the policy recommendations focused on reducing harm done to victims and survivors, stopping the spread and cycles of abuse, addressing enabling online environments, and strengthening the global response to OSAEC cases.

Ms. Munns and Dr. Brennan were then joined by Atty. Lawrence Aritao, International Justice Mission; Atty. Margarita Magsaysay, National Coordination Council against OSAEC and CSAEM/Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking; Ms. Maria Victoria Almazan, Council for the Welfare of Children; and, Atty. Maria Roda Cisnero, The Asia Foundation for a panel discussion led by Dr. Tarroja.

Dr. Homer J. Yabut, Director of SDRC, gave his closing remarks, encouraging stakeholders to take collective action in the advocacy, emphasizing the effort in protecting children, breaking down the systems of exploitation, and building a safer future for generations to come.

The team aims to disseminate the full findings to the organizations soon, alongside the recommendations to push for policy development on OSAEC in terms of early detection, deterrence, and prevention, as well as notions for improvement in rehabilitation, reintegration and long-term support of OSAEC victims.