AN organization of adult survivors of child sexual exploitation in the Philippines has stepped up its advocacy to fight the growing threat of online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (Osaec) by launching the ‘Hope U Protect’ campaign.
Supported by the International Justice Mission (IJM) Philippines, the campaign-spearheaded by members of the Philippine Survivor Network (PSN)-is a survivor-led national advocacy and peer-support organization that aims to teach children how to recognize safe and unsafe situations and where to seek help; support parents and communities in guiding and protecting children; and partner with selected local governments to pass and implement anti-Osaec ordinances.
‘Today, I stand before you not just as a survivor, but as someone who has experienced what it means to be broken and what it means to slowly become whole again,’ said Patricia, a survivor of Osaec and a member of PSN, at the campaign’s recent unveiling at a prayer gathering attended by faith leaders, government representatives, child protection advocates, and community partners at the Greenhills Christian Fellowship Center in Ortigas, Pasig City on July 1, 2026, as part of IJM Philippines’ effort marking its 25 years of combating child sexual exploitation.
The campaign hopes to shift the conversation from awareness alone to action, placing survivors at the forefront of efforts to prevent online sexual abuse and exploitation of children through education, community engagement with local government units and stronger child protection systems.
Patricia said the campaign was created in the belief that protecting children is a shared responsibility.
‘We invite you to become part of the solution, to stand with survivors, to speak up for children, and to help create safer communities,’ said Patricia.
‘Osaec is not just an issue happening somewhere far away. It can happen inside homes, through phones, through the internet or digital spaces where children spend their time. It is a hidden crime that wounds children deeply,’ she said.
Surviving the abuse
Another survivor leader, Aira, shared how she was exploited online at the age of 10 by someone she trusted, an experience that left her in fear, confusion and shame for years. Learning later that her younger sister had also been abused revealed how children can be harmed even in places where they should feel safest.
‘Every child must be protected. Every survivor must be believed. And every community must take action,’ Aira said.
She credited counseling, faith and the support of trusted people for helping her rebuild her life and eventually find purpose in advocacy. Joining the PSN in 2022 transformed her understanding of what it means to survive.
‘I found a space where survivors are not seen as victims to be pitied, but as leaders, people with wisdom, courage and lived experience that can help shape a stronger system of protection,’ said Aira.
Now a licensed professional teacher and content moderator working to make digital platforms safer, Aira said meaningful change requires commitment from every sector of society.
‘If we truly desire to see change in our nation, we are all responsible,’ she said, calling on government agencies to strengthen survivor-centered laws and services, the private sector to invest in safer online platforms and reporting systems, and faith leaders and communities to create environments where children feel safe to seek help.
‘Protecting Filipino children cannot be the responsibility of one sector alone. It requires all of us,’ she said.
The scale of the crisis
According to IJM data, Osaec is a crime that often takes place inside homes, facilitated by trusted adults such as parents, relatives, or neighbors acting as traffickers. One of its most devastating forms is the livestreaming of child sexual abuse, where a local trafficker abuses a child in real time in exchange for money from a foreign sex offender abroad.
The Scale of Harm study by IJM and Nottingham Rights Lab revealed that in 2023, nearly half a million Filipino children, or one in every 100, were trafficked to produce child sexual exploitation material. The study also found that a quarter of a million Filipino adults were involved in this form of trafficking.
IMJ stated that despite the passage of the Anti-Osaec and Anti-Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials (CSAEM) Act (RA 11930) in 2022, harmful cultural norms continue to perpetuate the abuse.
For Atty. Sam Inocencio, IJM Philippines National Director, one of the greatest honors in her 23 years of working on this mission has been to witness the courage of survivors.
‘Their courage, young women and men who have endured so much, and who now stand not just as witnesses, but as leaders, as partners, to help transform the very systems that once failed them. Survivor voices play an essential role in transforming behaviors and shifting social norms in our communities,’ said Inocencio.
Per casework reports from the Philippine Government and the Department of Social Welfare Development (DSWD), with IJM support, a total of 1,689 survivors had been rescued from 2011 to July 3, 2026, with 568 of them fully recovered from their trauma and living independent lives. A total of 465 suspects have been arrested, with 296 perpetrators convicted.
The campaign aligns with the broader national vision of Bayang Walang Bahid ng Osaec (‘A Nation Free from Osaec’), launched jointly by IJM and the Philippine Government at the 2024 National Summit Against OSAEC attended by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
‘Building on this vision, survivor leaders will work hand in hand with local government units, barangay officers, and schools to ensure ordinances are passed and implemented effectively, while awareness drives reach the communities and families most at risk,’ added IJM.
Aside from local hotlines, anyone with information about Osaec incidents may reach the PNP Women and Children Protection Center’s ‘Aleng Pulis’ helpline through its Facebook page or by calling 0966 725 5961 (Globe) or 0920 907 1717 (Smart). Another reporting channel is the Iacat 1343 Actionline, which operates nationwide. Iacat stands for the Interagency Council Against Trafficking.