Soliman reiterates call to fight cyber pornography, prostitution

DSWD chief says victims of cyber pornography do not think of freedom, but cages

Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman had once again called on the delegates from the ASEAN countries to re-examine their promises  to work on a cyber pornography and cyber prostitution-free Southeast Asia during the 2nd ASEAN conference held recently in Tagbilaran City.

Soliman reiterated that change should happen for these vulnerable victims.   “Young men, women and children should be in the safe hands and make their way out of poverty and into self-sufficiency through  the provision of safe and equitable labor.  They  are not supposed to be in the hands of the criminals who wish to abuse them.”

“What happens in this age? We see many good things happening when the internet and mobile devices act as medium: people build communities, share important information and make it immediately available,” Soliman asked.

There is a much more darker side, however, behind computer screens and from other ends of mobile devices lurk predators who have the power to deceive and kidnap victims from all over the country,  lock them up in casas objectionable living conditions and force them to perform despicable acts in front of invisible audiences all over the globe.

In the conference, advocates from  public and civil sectors, were urged for an even tighter cooperation and implement the promised social justice in concrete manner to protect the vulnerable women and children from danger.

Measures undertaken by the Philippine Government included the full enforcement of the Women and Children’s Desks of the Philippine National Police for the reporting of pornography and prostitution cases,  convictions of human trafficking offenses by the Department of Justice,  the pursuit of records from the Inter-agency  Council Against Trafficking in Persons  and the National Justice Information System,  a connecting tool for both the justice sector agencies and the database for the Philippine Center for transnational case.

“The victims of cyber pornography and cyber prostitution do not think of freedom, but cages.  They wish for protection for  their rights,” Soliman said.