EU Delegation Visits Philippines to Combat Online Child Abuse
A European Parliament member, Caterina Chinnici, recently visited the Philippines to promote closer collaboration in addressing online sexual abuse or exploitation of children (OSAEC) and child sexual abuse or exploitation materials (CSAEM). The key focus of the visit was to enhance joint efforts between the European Union and the Philippines in protecting children from these crimes.
Chinnici led a delegation that met with officials from the Department of Justice (DOJ) on May 27. She emphasized the importance of working together, stating, “We have the same objective and the same goal to protect the children against child sexual abuse online and offline.” This highlights the shared commitment between the EU and the Philippines to tackle these issues effectively.
Sharing Expertise and Strengthening Laws
The European Union has been actively improving its legislation to better combat OSAEC and CSAEM. The meeting with the DOJ provided an opportunity to exchange knowledge, share experiences, and discuss future cooperation. Chinnici described the gathering as “a first step to continue to work together, because you know the child sexual abuse is not only the problem of the Philippine, it’s the problem of all the countries, of all states.”
Delegation and Philippine Officials Involved
The EU delegation included several key figures such as Director Antoine Ripoll from the EU Delegation in the Association for Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Secretary General Emilio Puccio of the European Parliament’s Intergroup on Children’s Rights, and Captain Alessandro Averna Chinnici of the Carabinieri Company of Faenza.
On the Philippine side, the meeting involved DOJ Assistant Secretary Michelle Anne S. Lapiz, Undersecretary Angelo M. Tapales from the Council for the Welfare of Children, and Executive Director Barbara Mae Pagdilao-Flores of the National Center Against OSAEC and CSAEM (NCC-OSAEC-CSAEM).
Building a Global Front Against Child Sexual Abuse
The discussions reinforced the understanding that child sexual abuse, both online and offline, is a global problem requiring united action. The collaboration aims to strengthen policies, improve enforcement, and enhance preventive measures to protect vulnerable children from exploitation.
Through ongoing partnerships and shared commitment, the EU and the Philippines are setting a strong example of international cooperation against these crimes. This initiative is expected to pave the way for more comprehensive strategies and joint operations in the future.
For more news and updates on online sexual abuse, visit Filipinokami.com.