Globe partners with civic groups in awareness campaign vs sexual exploitation of Filipino children online
MANILA – Globe Telecom partnered with civic groups Child Rights Network and Plan International to create awareness on and stopping online sexual exploitation of children in the Philippines.
In a statement, the telecom giant said Miguel Bermundo, director for Globe Citizenship and Advocacy Marketing, discussed three major efforts to keep children safe during the media launch of Child Rights Network #ShutdownOSEC (Online Sexual Exploitation of Children) campaign and Plan International’s safer Internet Day activities with a large crowd of students, parents and other stakeholders with the theme “Building Resilient Online Community Against Sexual abuse and Exploitation of Children.”
Bermundo said children turn to the internet when they search for information, play and communicate with their peers.
“However, without proper guidance, there is now a higher danger of children being exposed to sexual solicitation, cyberbullying, lewd and violent materials, among other disturbing content which may affect their well-being negatively,” Bermundo said.
He underscored the Digital Thumbprint Program (DTP) for students, teachers, and parents, as a key Globe initiative to keep children well-protected once they connect to the internet.
DPT was launched some four years ago in response to the growing online abuse involving the youth. The program received Best Initiatives in Social Responsibility recognition from The Asset Corporate Awards in 2018. Through the program, teachers and parents are trained to provide workshops to students on cyber safety and security, digital citizenship and critical thinking.
Globe also partnered with ABS-CBN Foundation, Inc. by offering toll-free calls to Bantay Bata #163 helpline for all Globe and TM mobile phone users to make it easier and safer to report, rescue, and rehabilitate sick and abused children.
Citing the recent National Baseline Survey on Violence Against Children (NBS VAC), in the Philippines, Globe said about 2.9% children have their own nude body or own sexual activities shown via the internet or mobile phone, 28% have been presented images of sexual activities of other people, and 35.4% have received sexually charged, negative, foul words or messages.
Incidentally, the Office of Cybercrime under the Department of Justice reported receiving 37,715 cyber tips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) in 2016 which increased to 45,645 in 2017 while the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) reported 172 cases of child pornography in 2017, up from 62 cases in 2016. (Melo M. Acuña)
Miguel Bermundo, Globe Director for Citizenship and Advocacy Marketing (extreme left) talks about Globe's efforts to fight abuse and exploitation of children at Plan International's Safer Internet Day celebration. (Contributed Photo)