RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE COMMITTEE ON YOUTH TO CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION, IN AID OF LEGISLATION, ON THE EXPLOITATION AND ABUSE OF MINORS BY CYBERSEX SYNDICATES AND THE RAMPANT SPREAD OF ONLINE CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

Whereas, the Philippines is a signatory to the United Nations Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography. The United Nations (UN) called the attention of countries around the world on the growing availability of child pornography on the Internet and other evolving technologies. In its conclusion, the UN Convention called for the worldwide criminalization of the production, distribution, exportation, transmission, importation, intentional possession and advertising of child pornography, and stressing the importance of closer’ cooperation and partnership between Governments and the Internet industry;

Whereas, in response to the State’s duty to protect the fundamental rights of every child from all abuse prejudicial to his/her development, Republic Act No. 9775 otherwise known as the “Anti-Child Pornography Law of 2009” was enacted into law. It provides that any person who employs, induces or coerces a child to be engaged or involved in explicit sexual activities, whether visual, audio, or’ written combination thereof, and knowingly distributes it in any manner;

Whereas, in a report by the United Kingdom online newspaper Daily Mail, at least 58 Filipino suspects have been arrested in connection to a Scottish teenager’s suicide following a threat to send compromising images of him to his family and friends unless he paid them. The widespread incidence of prostitution and pornography in the Philippines reaches every part of the globe through cyberspace, and cybercrime dens operating in the country have reached international victims;

Whereas, International watchdog Virtual Global Task Force listed the Philippines as among the top ten countries with rampant cyber pornographic activities involving mostly boys and girls age 10-14. Based on news reports, over 31 provinces are considered by the police as cybercrime “hotspots” for harboring cybersex and cyberporn hubs, and are being closely monitored. Reports showed that most patrons of these multi-billion-dollar cyber activities are from the United States of America and European countries;

Whereas, considering that the youth are the primary users of mass media, there is a need to ensure that those who have access to Internet Technology are protected from predators who search out children who are vulnerable and easily manipulated. To be involved in any way in child pornography will cause detrimental and irreversible effects to a child’s physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, and social well-being;

Whereas, to address the rampant spread of child pornography, Republic Act No. 10175 otherwise known as the “Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012” was passed into law to further penalizes acts punishable under RA No. 9775 by one degree higher. While rigid measures have been adopted, the government should be able to properly implement these laws and the violators should be penalized accordingly. Only constant vigilance will start the possible eradication of these pornographic materials involving children, in the hope of building a nation that values the dignity of every human person and guarantees full respect for human rights;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, as it is hereby resolved to direct the Committee on Youth to conduct an investigation, in aid of legislation, on the exploitation and abuse of minors by cybersex syndicates and the rampant spread of online child pornography.

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