World Vision’s Project Against Child Exploitation (ACE) in partnership with Department of Justice (DOJ) National Coordination Center (NCC) Anti-Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) and Anti-Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials (CSAEM), Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), and Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) conducted the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) Cascading of the Republic Act (RA) 11930 to the Private Sector, as part of the Safer Internet Day commemoration on February 20-22, 2024 in Quezon City.
The Republic Act 11930 also known as the "Anti-Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) and Anti-Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials (CSAEM) Act” was enacted last July 30, 2022. Almost a year after, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian and DOJ Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla signed the IRR of the RA 11930 which covers the duties and responsibilities of the private sector, especially internet intermediaries and internet service providers, down to internet hotspots, cafes, or kiosks. With this, Project ACE aimed to reach the private sector to discuss the salient provisions of RA11930 and cascade the duties and responsibilities.
“World Vision is committed to work alongside our partners, service providers and key government agencies in making a difference in the life of every child. We can do this through our collaboration, strengthening our capacity and complementing our resources,” said Bonifacio Calapan, Operations Director (Officer-in-Charge) of World Vision in his message of support.
According to a study conducted by the International Justice Mission, 1 in 100 children in 2022 were abused to produce child sexual abuse and exploitation material causing them life-long trauma.
Internet Service Providers (ISPs), Payment Service Providers (PSPs), Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), other intermediaries, as well as representatives in department regional and local government units joined the training to identify action agenda in aid of private sector compliance of their duties within the terms of the IRR.
Ma. Lara Dominique B. Sanchez from the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking of DOJ, discussed the salient points of the IRR for Anti-OSAEC Law highlighting the important roles of service providers in its implementation.
Thereafter, duties and responsibilities of the participants and safe reporting and referral procedures and safeguarding corporations or businesses and personnel were discussed by different government agencies assigned during the 3-day event.
Guest corporations and businesses also shared their good practices hoping to influence other participants to do the same.
In his closing message, CWC Executive Director Angelo M. Tapales mentioned the importance of working together to combat OSAEC. He emphasized that collaborating with different government agencies and NGOs is vital in campaigning against one of the worst forms of child labor.
The 3-day forum served as an opportunity not just for government agencies but also for service providers to work together to end online sexual abuse and exploitation of children. Partners reaffirmed its commitment through the event’s official tagline “OSAEC at CSAEM ating sugpuin. Implementasyon ng R.A 11930 sama-samang patatagin”
Funding is provided by the United States Department of Labor under cooperative agreement number IL 34007-19-75-K. 100 percent of the total costs of the project in the Philippines is financed with United States Department of Labor funds.
