FOR THIS writer, the real heroes in the Philippines are the exploited and abused boys and girls who have endured horrific beatings and rapes by child sex abusers and found the courage to fight back and attain justice for themselves.
Cases of child abuse, especially online child sexual abuse, are rising, according to data from the National Baseline Study on Violence Against Children in the Philippines. Eight out of 10 children — or 80 percent — face some form of violence or abuse during their lifetime.
Children from ages zero to 17 make up roughly 33.6 percent of the country’s population. In a total estimated population of more than 112 million, this translates to approximately 38 to 40 million underage children living in the Philippines.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) estimates that 17 percent of them experienced sexual abuse by parents, relatives and pedophiles. As many as two million Filipino children aged 12 to 17 were subjected to online sexual abuse and exploitation in 2020 and 2021, and it’s likely that this has increased since then.
One in five internet-using children, or 20 percent, suffer abuse. Such numbers are shocking in a predominantly Catholic country where every child should be loved and protected. Sadly, this is not the case.
Child care by nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), like our Olongapo City-based Preda Foundation, protects and heals abused children and helps them win justice against their abusers. Local social workers refer young abuse survivors to Preda’s therapeutic center every week.
Several hundred abused children have received help and protection there, been healed and empowered, and stood up for their rights and dignity and testified against their abusers while under Preda’s care and protection. They are later reintegrated with responsible family members and receive aftercare services.
As many as 20 convictions are won every year. As of Oct. 10, children helped by Preda have won 18 convictions. More are expected, thanks to dedicated family court judges and equally dedicated prosecutors.
The Preda Foundation is known for healing abuse survivors and helping them attain victory in court. Its social workers are advised by the Standards Bureau of the Department of Social Welfare and Development that is greatly improving care for abused children in residential centers by providing training and strict monitoring.
Child sexual abuse is spreading because of the internet. Images of children being abused are easily available on it, and the government is helpless to control their transmission. It is an independent power unto itself.
Any act by an adult of a sexual nature against a child 16 years old and younger is statutory abuse; and the accused receives a long prison sentence if convicted. Some victims are as young as 3 years old and many have suffered sexual exploitation and abuse. (To be continued)/PN
