In the digital age, computer cameras serve as conduits of connection, fostering the exchange of joy and familial bonds across continents. However, amidst this connectivity lies a harrowing reality for children in the Philippines. For them, the innocuous lens of a computer camera transforms into a sinister weapon wielded by perpetrators within their own communities and beyond borders, reaching into the heart of Canada. This dual nature underscores the urgent need for vigilance and collective action to safeguard the innocence and well-being of our children, redefining the narrative of technology as a force for protection rather than exploitation.

Canadian sex offenders pay between 25 to 130 dollars to direct and watch the live-streamed sexual abuse of Filipino children. In fact, despite its relatively small population, Canada is the fourth largest sender of payments flagged as “suspicious transactions” for this horrific global crime. The Canadian government therefore has an urgent responsibility to hold its offenders accountable, protect children online, and increase its investment in finding lasting solutions to this form of human trafficking.

It is a national disgrace that Canadians can exploit the most vulnerable of the vulnerable with impunity and anonymity. Law enforcement should be given the tools, the mandate, and the resources to eliminate this scourge.

As a survivor who knows the pain of online sexual exploitation, the Scale of Harm study’s findings underscore the urgency for stronger collective action to protect innocent children. Co-designed by survivors, this study is informed by lived experiences. With recommendations involving government, tech and financial companies, civil society organizations, and individuals in our communities, this study marks a crucial step forward

The Philippine government is according high priority on efforts to protect Filipino children from the grave threat of online sexual abuse and exploitation. We have actively engaged civil society, the private sector, and the local communities. We also wish to work closely with the Canadian government and other stakeholders, including IJM Canada, in creating a safer and more secure future for every Filipino child, both online and offline. It is only with robust and comprehensive international cooperation can we successfully put a stop to this type of abuse.

« C’est une honte que le Canada soit parmi les quatre pays qui envoient le plus d’argent aux Philippines pour profiter de l’exploitation sexuelle en ligne d’enfants vulnérables. Trop de Canadiens sont complices de ces crimes qui détruisent la vie d’enfants à l’autre bout du monde. En tant que pays riche, nous avons le devoir impératif d’en faire davantage, afin que Canadiens qui se cachent derrière des écrans ne puissent plus participer en toute impunité à ce voyeurisme répugnant. »