National Study on Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children in the Philippines (OSAEC)

National Study on Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children in the Philippines (OSAEC)

Project Director:  Dr. Maria Caridad H. Tarroja
Funding Agency:  United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)

The National Study on Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children in the Philippines (OSAEC) aims to systematically collect data on the nature and scope of online sexual abuse and exploitation of children in the Philippines, and their causes, drivers, and contributing factors. The expected output of this study will serve as a guide for policy makers and other stakeholders to better respond to and prevent the problem. Findings of the study may be used by different government agencies, non-government agencies and other stakeholders for developing, improving, and implementing existing laws and regulations (DOJ), creating programs to respond to children’s needs and their families (DSWD, NGOs), and mapping out advocacy plans and programs.

Furthermore, the expected output will be a characterization of the operational process of online child sexual abuse and exploitation, and the patterns of behavior of the victims and offenders, that can serve as a guide for policy makers and other stakeholders to coordinate efforts and intervention programs leading to a better response to and prevention of the problem.

Key words:  online sexual abuse, exploitation of children, advocacy plans and programs, patterns of behavior of victims and offenders