Anti-trafficking group, TikTok tie up to combat online child sexual abuse
The International Justice Mission and the social media platform TikTok launched on Monday (Aug. 2) their “#Report2Protect” campaign against online sexual exploitation of children in the country. (Image courtesy of IJM)
MABALACAT CITY, Pampanga—The Washington-based human rights group International Justice Mission (IJM) has partnered with social media platform TikTok to boost its campaign against online sexual exploitation of children in the country.
In a statement Monday, the Manila office of IJM said the group’s partnership with TikTok aims to increase community awareness and reporting of incidents involving online child sexual exploitation.
The “#Report2Protect” campaign will encourage timely reporting of the crime to authorities, using the hotlines from the Philippine National Police – Women and Children Protection Center (PNP-WCPC): 0919-777-7377 (Smart) and 0966-725-5961 (Globe), the IJM said.
According to the group, the campaign features “educational” and “compelling” videos from TikTok creators, who have a huge following, on the platform, where WCPC’s hotline numbers are displayed.
“The Philippine government has made incredible progress in the fight to end the online sexual exploitation of children, and this campaign seeks to continue the momentum,” said lawyer Samson Inocencio Jr., regional vice president of IJM global programs against online sexual exploitation of children.
He said the crime “inflicts deep trauma” on child victims, and timely intervention is critical.
The IJM quoted TikTok’s public policy head Kristoffer Rada as saying that TikTok wants to ensure the safety of its users, especially the younger online community.
Col. Sheila Portento, WCPC Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division chief, said in the same statement that the campaign encourages the community to report incidences of online sexual exploitation of children and “sends a strong warning to traffickers that there is growing vigilance against this crime.”
The IJM said it supported operations with Philippine authorities since 2011 that resulted in the rescue of 828 victims, arrest of 293 suspected perpetrators, and conviction of 115 persons.
