Quezon City – In line with the national observance of the 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women, the Institute for Labor Studies (ILS) – Gender and Development Committee organized a webinar titled “Beyond the Screens: Identifying and Responding to Online Sexual Harassment” on 11 December 2024 via Zoom and Facebook Live.

The webinar underscored the urgent need for stronger laws and policies addressing online sexual harassment and violence. It also provided participants with actionable steps for reporting and responding to such incidents, whether in workplace settings or the broader community.

Ms. Sharleen N. Macavinta, Senior Agent from the National Bureau of Investigation, delivered a presentation on the critical issues of gender-based violence, human trafficking, and Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC). Ms. Macavinta also shed light on the evolving nature of online threats and the necessity of robust interventions to protect vulnerable sectors, particularly children.

Meanwhile, Ms. Jonnalyn Calipay from the Bureau of Workers with Special Concerns shared key government policies and programs aimed at combatting gender-based violence and harassment. Ms. Calipay highlighted the critical role of collaboration among stakeholders in ensuring the effective implementation of these initiatives.

Through the webinar, the ILS reaffirmed its commitment to championing the protection of the rights and dignity of all individuals, particularly women and children. In 2022, ILS published an issue paper titled “Government and Civil Society: Advancing Efforts to Fight Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC)”. Authored by Ms. Arianne Ishreen Bucar Tarrosa, the paper highlighted existing interventions and the challenges faced by multisectoral organizations in addressing OSAEC during the onset of the pandemic.

The replay of the webinar can be accessed at the ILS Facebook page through https://bit.ly/3OYYdtY.

The issue paper titled “Government and Civil Society: Advancing Efforts to Fight Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC)” can be downloaded through: https://bit.ly/49MqFJk.

To report information about online child sexual exploitation, contact the Philippine National Police – Women and Children Protection Center at 0966-725-5961 (Globe) and 0919-777-7377 (Smart) or the IACAT Actionline at 1343.

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