DSWD Conducts Information Campaign Against Child Pornography and Online Sexual Exploitation of Children to Elementary and High School Students

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office 7 through the Recovery and Reintegration Program for Trafficked Persons (RRPTP) in coordination with the Social Marketing Unit recently conducts an information campaign to prevent child pornography and online sexual exploitation of children (OSEC) to students of Pilipog Elementary School, Cordova National High School, Cordova Central School and Day-as Elementary School in Cordova, Cebu. This information campaign is a two-day activity in which two schools were visited per day in order for the speakers to explain thoroughly the topics to the students.

The information campaign of DSWD-7 which was attended by around 300 students from the four schools aims to prevent sexual abuse and exploitation of children. The activity focused on the discussion about online safety tips and online sexual exploitation of children and the things the students should do if someone would ask them to perform some pornographic activity. In order for the students to really understand OSEC, the facilitators let the participants from four different schools watched the short movie entitled Red Leaves Falling.

The movie tells the story of many young girls who are trafficked everyday due to poverty. Men and women go into remote towns and villages promising good jobs to poor families, who unsuspectingly sell their daughters into prostitution. After watching the movie, students reactions were varied. There were those who cried because they empathized with the character. The staff also asked some questions after the movie viewing and every student who answered the question received a prize like pen, notebook, and fan.

The principals from the four schools were overjoyed that DSWD conducted this kind of activity for their students to be aware of OSEC and child pornography because they know that sexual exploitation and children abuse are happening in their place. They also wish that the Department will continue the conduct of this information campaign and advocacy efforts.