DSWD, anti-child abuse groups launch online information campaign

MANILA, Philippines - A coalition of anti-child abuse groups and the Department of Social Welfare and Development launched yesterday an information campaign via social media sites in a bid to bring the battle against all forms of child abuse to cyberspace.

The groups, led by Para Sa Mga Bata Citizens Network (PSMB) and the Council for the Welfare of the Children (CWC), said they are leveling up their information drive against child trafficking, pornography, and prostitution to protect children and women.

CWC executive director Brenda Vigo said there are already criminal syndicates that have shifted their illegal trade into the cyberspace.

“While many syndicates still use the old method of face-to-face recruitment of innocent children for their illegal business, some have tapped the limitless potentials of the Internet to further expand their business,” Vigo said.

“Child abuse is not only happening in real space, but also in the Internet. It has become pervasive in the Internet, especially child pornography. They also recruit their victims for child trafficking through the Internet,” she said.

“This is precisely why we need to inform the citizens, especially parents, that child abuse is happening in the Internet without being detected.”

The group is optimistic that the country’s reputation as the texting capital of the world and the Filipino’s continuing obsession to join social networking sites such as the Facebook and Twitter would become useful tools in bringing the war against all forms of child abuse to cyberspace.

CWC deputy executive director Maria Elena Caraballo said once they gain the attention and interest of Filipinos to join their campaign, they would be able multiply their capability “to spread the word on the evils brought about by child prostitution, child sexual abuse, child pornography, and child labor.”

Yesterday, the group held the “Para Sa Mga Bata: Social Media vs. Child Abuse – An online & Real Space Forum” at the Astoria Plaza in Pasig City.

About 150 participants attended the forum which would be uploaded on their website and posted on the Facebook accounts of affiliated organizations.

The event would also be tweeted by members via Twitter.com and blogged to multiply capability to end child abuse in the country.

The event was also shown on live stream and witnessed by overseas Filipino workers around the world.

PSMB president Rhanch Macalalad said their organization realized the tapping of social media sites to provide ordinary citizens avenues on how they could help in the anti-child abuse campaign.

Also, the PSMB declared yesterday as “Social Media Users Day of Action Against Child Abuse,” the first in the country.

“We were formed to harness the voice of the people on the issue of children. Everyone should be involved,” said Macalalad.