MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) called for stronger protection against child sexual abuse and exploitation as it released its 2025 report, which showed “a steep rise in online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC).”
While the country continues to confront long-standing issues of child sexual abuse, online sexual abuse and exploitation has become a pervasive and deeply rooted problem, CHR Chairman Richard Palpal-latoc told The Manila Times on Thursday.
“It worsened as digital access expanded and grew even more urgent during the pandemic and post-pandemic years,” said Palpal-latoc, a lawyer.
“Protecting children now requires sustained vigilance and robust safeguards across both offline and online spaces,” he added as he cited the State’s duty—anchored in Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act—to safeguard children from all forms of abuse, neglect, cruelty, and exploitation.
In its 2025 data, which Palpal-latoc said aligned with national and international reports, showed that in 2023 alone, over 2.7 million cyber tipline reports were recorded—an alarming increase from pre-pandemic levels.
Poverty-driven vulnerabilities, the involvement of family members, and the trauma associated with abuse continue to contribute to chronic underreporting, the CHR said.
“Child sexual abuse is a profound violation of human rights. It strips children of dignity, safety, and the opportunity to thrive,” Palpal-latoc said.
The agency reminded the Philippines’ obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and its Optional Protocols—and, domestically, under Republic Act 11930 or the Anti-OSAEC and Anti-Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials Act—to ensure accessible, child-sensitive, and trauma-informed mechanisms for reporting, rescue, rehabilitation, and justice.
As the country’s national human rights institution, the CHR underscores that the best interests of the child must guide all proceedings and interventions.
This includes trauma-informed investigations and rehabilitation, such as using pre-recorded testimonies to avoid re-traumatization. Strengthening community-based psychosocial support, not only for victims but also for families in high-risk environments, is also essential to breaking cycles of abuse.
The CHR also stressed the importance of poverty alleviation and livelihood support for vulnerable households; continued monitoring of child displacement, child labor, and child marriage; and stronger collaboration with internet service providers and digital platforms to detect and disrupt online exploitation.
“Equally vital are sustained information and awareness initiatives empowering children, caregivers, schools, and communities,” according to the CHR chief as he also acknowledged the growing multi-stakeholder movement against child sexual abuse and exploitation.
