Children and youth with disabilities take a stand against OSAEC | Photos from Liliane Fonds
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� One in every hundred Filipino children has been abused to create new child sexual exploitation material. If this can happen to children in general, how much more to those with disabilities 鈥� isolated, overlooked, and at even greater risk?
With the Philippines long considered the global epicenter of Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC), the numbers paint a horrifying picture. Over 400,000 children have fallen victim, yet fewer than 2,000 have been rescued since 2014. The vast majority suffer in silence.
For many children with disabilities, social media serves as a lifeline 鈥� one of the few ways for them to connect with others. However, for traffickers, it acts as a hunting ground.
鈥淭hey spend so much time online, more than you would imagine,鈥� Gamilla Avena, NORFIL Foundation鈥檚 program manager, told聽黑料社.
鈥淐hildren with disabilities, especially those who feel isolated in their own communities, seek friendship online. That makes them more vulnerable because they don鈥檛 always know who鈥檚 behind the keyboard,鈥� she added.
The harsh reality is that children with disabilities are easy targets.
Despite the increasing prevalence of OSAEC, research specifically focusing on children and adolescents with disabilities remains limited.
However, the few existing studies indicate that children with severe physical disabilities, autism, Williams syndrome, or intellectual disabilities face the highest risk of online victimization. Many do not realize they鈥檙e being exploited until it鈥檚 too late.
But something is changing.
In a historic moment, children and youth with disabilities took the stage to demand action against OSAEC, standing firm in their fight for change.
A stage for the silenced
Held in Quezon City and Palawan, the conference,聽Break the Prevalence, End the Violence: Protecting Children, Creating a Safe Philippines,聽was not just another forum for adults to speak on behalf of children. This time, the children spoke for themselves. The event will next be held in Bicol to reach even more children with disabilities.
Over two days in each location, children and youth with disabilities from across the country shared their experiences, concerns, and ideas. Many were hearing about OSAEC for the first time 鈥� a stark reminder of how little awareness exists in vulnerable communities.
鈥淚n Palawan, they are not aware of OSAEC. It was their first time to hear [and] learn about it,鈥� said Avena.
鈥淚鈥檝e been telling our partner organizations in Palawan [that] I鈥檓 surprised they weren鈥檛 aware of OSAEC, [especially considering] that Palawan is a very touristy [area],鈥� she continued.
Through workshops, role-playing, and photovoice activities, participants explored how online abuse happens, why children with disabilities are at risk, and, most importantly, how they can protect themselves and each other.
One of the most crucial moments unfolded when the children drafted their own manifesto 鈥� a document outlining their demands for better education, stronger protections, and improved accessibility in health and safety services.
Their demands, their future
In a decisive call for change, children and youth with disabilities demanded stronger protections and equal rights.
Their manifesto outlined four key priorities:
1. Access to education: The children emphasized that education should be more inclusive and tailored to their needs. Parents, in partnership with teachers, should provide guidance to make learning easier, especially for those who require personalized approaches. To support their education, they called for the provision of Accessible Learning Materials (ALM)鈥攔esources designed to accommodate their disabilities.
Financial constraints are also a major barrier. Many children with disabilities struggle to stay in school because of costly assistive devices, therapy sessions, and transportation challenges. To address this, the children demanded scholarships and government support for assistive devices, ensuring that no child is left behind due to financial difficulties.
2. Access to health: Children with disabilities often face significant obstacles in accessing medical care. Many hospitals and clinics lack the proper facilities, and medical personnel are not trained to communicate with patients who have disabilities. The manifesto called for free medical services, better-equipped health centers, and faster, more efficient processes for children needing medical attention.
One specific request was for health workers to be trained in sign language. Deaf children and youth often struggle to communicate their health concerns, which can lead to misdiagnosis, neglect, or poor treatment outcomes. The children also urged the government to provide free medicines, particularly for chronic conditions that require continuous treatment.
3. Access to information: Many children with disabilities are left in the dark about their rights, their daily needs, and how to protect themselves from abuse and exploitation. The lack of accessible information puts them at greater risk of OSAEC, human trafficking, and other forms of violence.
The manifesto stressed that all children and youth with disabilities should have access to age-appropriate, disability-friendly materials that teach them about personal safety, online dangers, and their legal rights. They also called for community-based programs that will help spread awareness, equipping children with the knowledge and confidence to seek help when needed.
4. Access to protection: Children with disabilities are among the most vulnerable to violence 鈥� not just online but in their everyday environments. They called for local governments and barangays to strengthen safety measures to ensure that they can live free from harm.
Among their specific demands were:
- A stricter curfew from 10 PM to 4 AM to protect children from nighttime dangers.
- Increased barangay patrols at night to prevent crimes and improve safety.
- More accessible police stations and law enforcement presence in communities to ensure that children in distress can seek immediate help.
- Improved roads, pedestrian crossings, and accessible public spaces to make mobility safer for children with disabilities.
- Installation of streetlights in dark alleys and narrow pathways, as many children fear walking home in poorly lit areas.
These concrete, immediate measures could greatly reduce risks for children and youth with disabilities, enhancing their safety both online and offline.
What happens next?
The conferences may have ended, but the fight for change continues.
NORFIL Foundation 鈥� a non-profit dedicated to protecting the rights of neglected, abused, and disabled children 鈥� along with the Netherlands-based Liliane Fonds and local partner organizations, plan to expand its program to reach more children, particularly in underserved areas like Bicol.
Beyond expansion, they are committed to turning the manifesto鈥檚 demands into concrete action.
To make sure these demands reach decision-makers, NORFIL will submit the consolidated manifesto to local government units in the areas where the participating children live. According to Avena, the manifesto is also set to reach the national level.
鈥淲e will also submit the manifesto to the Council for the Welfare of Children, where NORFIL chairs the Committee on Children with Disabilities,鈥� she explained. The goal? To push for policy adjustments and stronger government action.
Beyond policies, NORFIL is counting on its local partner organizations to push for the manifesto鈥檚 integration into government programs.
鈥淪ome of them are already part of local councils for the protection of children,鈥� Avena said, adding that local partner organizations will advocate for the recommendations of children and youth with disabilities to be included in community planning, budgeting, and service delivery.
NORFIL said it is committed to making sure that the voices of children with disabilities extend beyond the conference, influencing policymaking and driving real change in communities.
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Graphics by Ed Lustan/Inquirer.net. Sources: International Justice Mission, Unicef Philippines, NORFIL Foundation, Liliane Fonds, Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse of Children and Adolescents with Disabilities: A Systematic Review.Disabilities, 4(264鈥�276).