City, NGOs join hands vs child pornography

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama and some nongovernment organizations yesterday held a rally against child pornography.

The campaign was in coordination with the Terre des Hommes, an international non-government organization in Netherlands together with Bidlisiw Foundation, Inc., the Children’s Legal Bureau (CLB) and the Fellowship for Organizing Endeavors, Inc. (FORGE)

The rally started at the Fuente Osmeña Circle and ended at the Plaza Independecia.

Rama told The FREEMAN that poverty is the number one cause of child pornography in the internet.

Rama said that the great challenge lies on the barangay so he asked everyone to help in the campaign to stop child pornography. He further said many children roam the streets at nights or go to internet cafes and he doubts what kind of sites some are joining whether these be pornography sites or gambling.

Sheila Baylosis, a social worker of FORGE said there are recorded cases in urban areas, there are parents themselves who pushed their children to engage in commercial sexual exploitation to earn money.

In a focused group discussion made by FORGE, 4 out of 5 children who were interviewed said that they have many friends who are engaged in child pornography.

The children reportedly earn P3,000 to P4,000 per session and the amount is sent through Western Union.

Maria Stella Echano, country coordinator of Terre des Hommes, Netherlands said that while Cebu is having a campaign, Netherlands is also doing the same.

Enchano claims that child pornography is rampant in Cebu and needs to be addressed. Among other effects, she said, this brings trauma on the children exposed over the porn sites all over the world.

Cybersex has become an easy alternative for families striving for survival and for some, to satisfy their want of the latest gadgets or fashion.    - THE FREEMAN