INTERNATIONAL Justice Mission (IJM) is launching a collaborative video campaign with 22 leading Filipina social media influencers in a powerful show of unity against the online sexual exploitation of children (Osec) in the Philippines.
The video campaign, #BetterThanFlowers, will be released on Monday, May 4, in the lead up to Mother's Day on Sunday, May 10, and encourages viewers to make financial donations to fight against Osec in lieu of the more traditional gift of Mother's Day flowers.
The #BetterThanFlowers message is clear: The Philippines should no longer accept that its children are being exploited by online sexual predators.
IJM is a global organization that fights violent forms of slavery and oppression. Since taking on its first Osec case in the Philippines in 2011, IJM and their government partners have conducted 182 operations in the Philippines, rescuing 613 victims, the youngest of whom was an infant.
The #BetterThanFlowers campaign is being launched to highlight the issue of Osec in the Philippines. The campaign's aim is twofold: 1) to raise awareness of Osec, particularly within a Filipino audience; and 2) to raise funds for IJM Philippines, enabling their teams to continue the vital work of rescuing victims, restraining perpetrators and supporting the rehabilitation of Osec survivors.
IJM's collaborative casework data points to a disturbing trend that in 62 percent of its Osec cases, the local perpetrator is a family member, relative, close family friends, or neighbors. IJM is therefore focused on public awareness campaigns in addition to its work on the frontlines because of the hidden and layered nature of this crime, when the very people charged with the care of children are too often the ones facilitating the abuse. Sadly, the global Covid-19 lockdown has created a perfect storm of conditions that is fueling demand for child sexual abuse material.
IJM has now supported two police operations against Osec in the Philippines since the start of the Covid-19 lockdown including, on April 24, 2020 in an operation in Luzon which saw seven minors -- six males and one female, ages 3-14 -- rescued; four of them are the suspect's own children.
The women who contributed to the #BetterThanFlowers campaign are: Divine Lee, Rocio Olbes Ressano, Rica Peralejo-Bonifacio, Cindy Kurleto, Patti Grandidge-Herrera, Vanessa Matsunaga-Sunga, Jessica Tan-Gan, Mariel Padilla, Amanda Griffin Jacob, Cat Juan Ledesma, Kelly Misa-Fernandez, Dawn Zulueta, Dimples Romana-Ahmee, Denise Laurel, Bianca Santiago Reinoso, Liz Uy, Mikaela Lagdameo-Martinez, Solenn Heusaff Bolzico, Toni Gonzaga, Nicole Hernandez - de los Angeles, Cristalle Belo, Joanna Blanding, and Sam Valenciano.
Due to the Covid-19 lockdown measures and restrictions on movement, each of the influencers agreed to film their campaign contribution line(s) from their homes.
"IJM is extremely grateful for this group of influential women who are standing with us in the fight to end Osec," said IJM Philippines Director Samson Inocencio Jr. "Their powerful voices throw light on a crime which is otherwise dark and unseen and stirs in all of us a sense of urgency to rescue more victims and ultimately protect children from ever being abused in the first place."
The #BetterThanFlowers campaign was spearheaded by IJM Partner and Glam-O-Mamas Founder, Amanda Griffin-Jacob who said, "When I learned about Osec I was compelled to do everything I could to help put an end to it in our country. My heart aches for all the innocent children who are being victimized over and over again. The first step to eradication is national awareness of this abhorrent industry. Most Filipinos don't know that according to law enforcement data, the Philippines is the largest known source of Osec cases globally. The next step is for Filipinos to know and understand that the punishment and penalties for Osec crimes are severe in our country. If and when perpetrators are caught, the sentences are harsh. This is a significant deterrent that people engaging in these crimes need to be made aware of."
The Philippines has extremely robust laws to protect children from Osec, a crime that violates the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act or Republic Act (RA) 9208 (as amended by RA 10364), which comes with a maximum penalty of life imprisonment and a fine of P2 million to P5 million.
Typical Osec offenses also violate RA 10175 (Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012), and RA 9775 (Anti-Child Pornography Act of 2009) and RA 7610 (Anti-Child Abuse Law). Both have penalties equivalent to 20 to 40 years imprisonment.
Osec is defined as the production, for the purpose of online publication, of visual depictions (e.g. photos, videos, live streaming) of the sexual abuse or exploitation of a minor for a third party who is not in the physical presence of the victim, in exchange for compensation. IJM partners with local authorities in the Philippines to rescue victims and hold perpetrators accountable for their crimes.
One may report a suspected case of Osec by texting ENDOSEC (space) (incident details) to 7444-64 for Smart network subscribers; or by calling the IACAT 1343 Action line; or directly connecting with WCPC at (032) 410-8483 for Visayas, and 0917-180-6037 or 0928-604-6425 for Mindanao. (PR)