Online Sexual Exploitation of Children (OSEC) has emerged as a critical and urgent issue worldwide. OSEC involves the production and distribution of child sexual exploitation material (CSEM) online, live-streaming sexual abuse for paying viewers and grooming children online for sexual exploitation. The anonymity provided by the internet, combined with socio-economic vulnerabilities, has exacerbated the prevalence of this crime.
The prevalence of OSEC in the Philippines is alarming. The country has been identified as the global epicenter of live-streamed child sexual abuse, primarily driven by economic disparity and the widespread availability of the internet. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), poverty and lack of education significantly contribute to the vulnerability of children to OSEC. In 2022, a Scale of Harm prevalence study by the University of Nottingham Rights Lab revealed that nearly half a million Filipino children, approximately 1 in 100 children, were trafficked to produce new CSEM for profit. The study also found that nearly a quarter of a million adult Filipinos, roughly 3 in every 1,000 adults, engaged in trafficking to produce CSEM for profit in the same year, often involving traffickers who were relatives or known to the victims.
While legal and preventive measures are crucial, addressing the trauma experienced by survivors of OSEC is equally important. At Eleison, we provide mental health interventions to help children who have experienced OSEC heal and rebuild their lives. Our programs for OSEC survivors include:
- Crisis Intervention: We provide immediate short-term counseling and psychosocial support to OSEC survivors who experience homelessness, interpersonal and community violence, disclose suicidal thoughts or behaviors, and experience other mental health crises. Our team of mental health professionals is available with round-the-clock care to help survivors in crisis stabilize, build coping skills, strengthen their support systems, and achieve safety.
- Counseling: We conduct individual and group counseling sessions for OSEC survivors experiencing mental health concerns such as anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). During these sessions, our staff collaborates with survivors to identify their needs, strengthen coping mechanisms and resilience, and create personalized treatment plans to improve their overall well-being.
- Mental Health Workshops: Our mental health workshops promote mental health and emotional wellness by raising awareness and offering practical tools for managing mental health to survivors, their families, at-risk youth, and community partners. During these interactive learning sessions, we encourage individuals to openly communicate about mental health, combat stigma, and create a safe space to express themselves without fear or judgment.
- Trauma-Informed Yoga: We implement a trauma-informed yoga program for OSEC survivors called Healing and Resilience after Trauma (HaRT). The HaRT program is a 12-week group mental health program that combines mindfulness, breathing exercises, yoga poses, and supportive group discussions addressing three themes: safety in the body, radical self-love, and healthy relationships. Research has proven this program to be effective in reducing anxiety, depression, and PTSD symptoms among survivors.
By advocating for comprehensive mental health programs and expanding access to trauma-informed care, we aim to create a safer environment where all children are protected from exploitation. Together with concerted efforts from communities, governments, and organizations worldwide, we can work towards ending OSEC and creating a safer world for all children. If you are interested in supporting our programs for OSEC survivors, we invite you to contact us at info@eleisonfoundation.org or donate here.
