Join our fight to shut down online sexual abuse and exploitation
Around the globe, children are being targeted at an alarming rate by offenders seeking to exploit them
online. As more and more children gain access to the internet and spend more time online, particularly due
to the closure of schools during the COVID-19 pandemic, the incidence of online sexual abuse and
exploitation reports is skyrocketing.
Online sexual exploitation and abuse of children (OSEAC) – or the production and online publication of
visuals depicting the sexual abuse and exploitation of children – is one of the fastest-growing crimes in the world. It might take
the form of photographs, pre-recorded videos or livestreams. But no matter how these images and videos are
produced, they have one thing in common: A child was abused in the process.
Who is at risk?
Any child, anywhere, can be targeted for online abuse and exploitation, whether they are recruited by sex
offenders via the internet or within their own communities. In high-poverty areas, a child’s own loved ones
will sometimes allow them to be exploited in exchange for money. And OSEAC has burgeoned due to the
pandemic. As schools around the world have closed, children have spent more and more time online, often
without parental supervision, increasing their risk of being targeted by offenders. Amid ongoing lockdowns,
children have found themselves at even greater risk of being exploited for profit by parents, caregivers,
relatives and friends who are desperate for income and sometimes do not fully understand the lasting harm
that this type of abuse and exploitation has on children.
ChildFund has become a global leader in the fight against OSEAC. Our work began in 2019, even before
COVID-19, with our #ShutdownOSEC campaign in the Philippines. We joined with Child Rights Network, the
leading civil society network focused on children in the Philippines, in urging the government to prioritize
OSEAC and take stronger measures to address it. ChildFund and this network also brought together local
youth, policymakers, the media and technology companies to increase their understanding of OSEAC and ensure
their commitment to addressing the issue.
We can put an end to these insidious crimes against the most vulnerable. But first, we must
raise awareness of OSEAC’s prevalence, get more and better data on the issue, and fight for stronger laws to
protect children.
Download and share our fact sheet on
OSEAC.How is ChildFund working to protect kids online?
We are leading the fight against OSEAC in several different countries:
- In Kenya, ChildFund partnered with Google in 2021 to launch an online
safety project with the Communications Authority of Kenya, telecom leaders, and civil society
organizations to deliver the first comprehensive campaign of its kind.
- In the Philippines, Indonesia and Ecuador, ChildFund has developed
programs to address systemic issues and root causes through grassroots community awareness campaigns,
at-home training activities, educational games for children and their families, and engaging the tech
sector to amplify our reach to a broader audience.
- In Mexico, ChildFund is partnering with the federal government to increase awareness of and efforts to
address OSEAC, including participating in government-led initiatives like National Cybersecurity Week.
- In the U.S., through support from Oak
Foundation, ChildFund is bringing together domestic and internationally
focused civil society organizations that are working to address OSEAC from different angles – including
awareness raising, survivor support, law enforcement training, technology development – into one space
to break down silos and identify better ways of working together to advance stronger, more holistic
OSEAC-related policies.
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Want to Learn More?
Watch as ChildFund's Erin Kennedy explains the scope of the crime and how we all have a responsibility to shut
down OSEAC.