WATCH: Stop OSEC Now - Data & Statistics
The American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative (ABA ROLI) with support from the United States Agency for International Aid (USAID) hosted a virtual Zoom webinar on May 20 on “Understanding How To Prevent, Detect, and Help Prosecute Cases Involving OSEC.” ABA ROLI organized this webinar under the auspice of its Access to Justice and Support for the Rule of Law project in partnership with the Philippine Department of Justice (DOJ) Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT), the US Department of Justice Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training (OPDAT), the International Justice Mission (IJM), and the law firm of Disini, Buted and Disini. The webinar was attended by 161 participants representing the legal sector, government task forces, and civil society organizations.
Resource speakers for the event included Atty. Barbara Mae Flores, Deputy Regional Prosecutor of the DOJ National Prosecution Service; Atty. Donald Calvert of the United States DOJ OPDAT; Atty. Lucille Dejito, Field Operations Director, IJM; and Atty. JJ Disini of the law firm Disini, Buted and Disini.
Mr. Mohamed Dansoko, Team Lead of the Democracy, Human Rights and Governance program of USAID in the Philippines, noted that the confinement issued during the pandemic has worsened the prevalence of OSEC and reiterated USAID’s commitment to work with and support civil society organizations and the Philippine government in efforts to combat OSEC.
Atty. Mae Flores described the exploitation process and the 24 IACAT task forces around the country currently building their prosecutors’ capacity to prosecute and investigate OSEC cases in partnership with OPDAT and IJM. The DOJ also established the “Witness Victims Coordinator Program” to ensure that victims and witnesses have the support needed throughout the litigation process, while still accessing liaison assistance for government services available in other agencies.
Atty. Donald Calvert presented US approaches to criminal investigations, such as distinguishing proactive and reactive strategies, pre- and post-operational actions, and tools and techniques. Atty. Calvert also cited challenges in gathering evidence from digital platforms protected by privacy laws for local prosecutors in the IACAT and law enforcement in OSEC case build up.
Atty. Lucille Dejito discussed IJM’s OSEC programs, which focus on cases of online live streaming of sexual materials involving children. These programs are in partnership with the Philippine government and the Philippine National Police and the National Bureau of Investigation. Their collaborative work has resulted in more than 138 convictions and 793 rescued children at risk.
Atty. JJ Disini described OSEC as a cybercrime under the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, which gives authority to law enforcement to investigate through four types of warrants to disclose, intercept, search, seize, and examine computer data. Atty. Disini recommended more OSEC specific legislation, telecommunication company policy reforms, and immediate crackdown on OSEC by internet service providers and content hosts.
Finally, ABA ROLI Country Director Atty. Susan Cowley acknowledged that OSEC in the Philippines is mediated by the variables of internet availability and English communication ability. Atty. Cowley noted that OSEC is an emerging, technology driven crime, which in turn highlights the importance of a more active role by the legal sector.
Coinciding with the ABA ROLI webinar on OSEC, the Philippine Senate passed Senate Bill No. 2209, which seeks to amend Republic Act No. 9775 or the Anti-Child Pornography Act of 2009 to create a national coordination center under the IACAT, cite specific duties of internet service providers and financial intermediaries, and stipulate extra-territorial jurisdiction of the Philippines over the offense.
Resource speakers for the event included Atty. Barbara Mae Flores, Deputy Regional Prosecutor of the DOJ National Prosecution Service; Atty. Donald Calvert of the United States DOJ OPDAT; Atty. Lucille Dejito, Field Operations Director, IJM; and Atty. JJ Disini of the law firm Disini, Buted and Disini.
Mr. Mohamed Dansoko, Team Lead of the Democracy, Human Rights and Governance program of USAID in the Philippines, noted that the confinement issued during the pandemic has worsened the prevalence of OSEC and reiterated USAID’s commitment to work with and support civil society organizations and the Philippine government in efforts to combat OSEC.
Atty. Mae Flores described the exploitation process and the 24 IACAT task forces around the country currently building their prosecutors’ capacity to prosecute and investigate OSEC cases in partnership with OPDAT and IJM. The DOJ also established the “Witness Victims Coordinator Program” to ensure that victims and witnesses have the support needed throughout the litigation process, while still accessing liaison assistance for government services available in other agencies.
Atty. Donald Calvert presented US approaches to criminal investigations, such as distinguishing proactive and reactive strategies, pre- and post-operational actions, and tools and techniques. Atty. Calvert also cited challenges in gathering evidence from digital platforms protected by privacy laws for local prosecutors in the IACAT and law enforcement in OSEC case build up.
Atty. Lucille Dejito discussed IJM’s OSEC programs, which focus on cases of online live streaming of sexual materials involving children. These programs are in partnership with the Philippine government and the Philippine National Police and the National Bureau of Investigation. Their collaborative work has resulted in more than 138 convictions and 793 rescued children at risk.
Atty. JJ Disini described OSEC as a cybercrime under the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, which gives authority to law enforcement to investigate through four types of warrants to disclose, intercept, search, seize, and examine computer data. Atty. Disini recommended more OSEC specific legislation, telecommunication company policy reforms, and immediate crackdown on OSEC by internet service providers and content hosts.
Finally, ABA ROLI Country Director Atty. Susan Cowley acknowledged that OSEC in the Philippines is mediated by the variables of internet availability and English communication ability. Atty. Cowley noted that OSEC is an emerging, technology driven crime, which in turn highlights the importance of a more active role by the legal sector.
Coinciding with the ABA ROLI webinar on OSEC, the Philippine Senate passed Senate Bill No. 2209, which seeks to amend Republic Act No. 9775 or the Anti-Child Pornography Act of 2009 to create a national coordination center under the IACAT, cite specific duties of internet service providers and financial intermediaries, and stipulate extra-territorial jurisdiction of the Philippines over the offense.
Poll Surveys
Evaluation of learning gains at the event demonstrated there was a 27% increase in awareness among the participants , with all four topic areas resulting in knowledge increase following the awareness raising sessions.
Learn more about ABA ROLI's work across Asia and the Pacific.
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