Creating a safer Online Environment for Every Child (CONEC) (Philippines)

Moreover, children and parents/guardians often have limited knowledge and understanding of online sexual exploitation of children. Many of them think that abuse taking place online is less harmful. On the contrary, online sexual abuse can be just as traumatising as offline sexual abuse. It can lead to long-term psychological and developmental problems, negative self-esteem, difficulties in concentrating, or even self-harm or suicide.

Most children remain silent out of shame about what happened to them. They suffer from anxiety and depression. Moreover, online child exploitation materials persist on the internet for a long time and can reach thousands of internet users. By circulating this material, children continue to live in fear that the material will resurface or that people will recognise them from the photos or videos.

Many children hesitate to report on caregivers or other family members that facilitate or commit the offence. Child protection systems in the Philippines are inadequate. Children often do not know where to seek help and relive their traumas due to poor victim support.

In this project, we partner with Bidlisiw Foundation and ECPAT Philippines.

Bidlisiw Foundation is a social development non-government agency. Bidlisiw’s development work focuses on helping the poor families, particularly the informal settlers and families with children in need of special protection. 

ECPAT Philippines is part of a global network of organisations and individuals working together for the elimination of sexual exploitation of children, child pornography and the trafficking of children for sexual purposes. The ECPAT network spans over 100 countries, working together to counteract all forms of sexual exploitation of children.