CEAP trains school personnel of Visayas & Mindanao schools on Psychological First Aid
"In 2020, the Department of Justice Office of Cybercrime in the Philippines reported a 260% increase in cyber tips for the online sharing, re-sharing, and selling of child sexual abuse images and videos."
In light of the need to confront a growing number of cases of sexual exploitation among today’s youth, the CEAP Gender Equality Subcommittee, in partnership with the Private Education Assistance Committee (PEAC) and the Women and Gender Institute (WAGI), hosted a two-day workshop for teachers, counselors, and administrators at the Hotel Fortuna in Cebu City from March 13-14, 2024.
On the first day, Regional Trustee of the host region (CEAP 7), Sr. Elena “Leny” E. Soriano, DC, welcomed the participants of the Workshop. CEAP President Fr. Albert N. Delvo, PhD, gave the opening remarks and invited the seventy participants of the event to bear the intent of “re-imaging schools” as playgrounds and workplaces for the growth of our children as much as they are holy places. CEAP Executive Director Mr. Jose Allan I. Arellano gave the overview of the program and said that online sexual abuse has been a challenge during the COVID-19 pandemic because children have become more vulnerable to attacks from sexual predators online. He added that a special goal of the Workshop, therefore, was to train educators to support and ensure the safety of our students in digital platforms.
After a quick profiling of participants by Ms. Mary Ann S. Cruz, CEAP Deputy Executive Director and overall Workshop coordinator, everyone was ready for the training. The first session of the Workshop was given by WAGI Program Coordinator Frances Therese Zabala. She explained the definition, the nature, and the parameters of online sexual abuse or exploitation of children (OSAEC), as well as its rampancy in the Philippines. She showed some shocking statistics about OSAEC during the pandemic and asked participants to reflect on the measures and policies in their schools designed to protect students, and to share them with other participants.
The second session discussed the legal aspects and policies enacted to protect children and to apprehend cases of OSAEC. Atty. Mylen Gonzales-Esquivel, the Executive Director of Child Rights Advocacy Center, emphasized that each academic institution should have its own Child Protection Policy as mandated by DepEd regulations and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Moreover, she stressed that current laws and government policies are inadequate to address the needs of today’s youth because predators have found more furtive ways to target minors online. There also needs to be greater collaboration between schools and parents in monitoring the development of children, especially through parent-teacher associations.
On the second day of the Workshop, Prof. Pacita D. Fortin, RSW of Miriam College provided a rundown on the principles of psychological first aid and how to use it to support victims of abuse, violence, and exploitation. She also taught the audience various techniques that can be used to hold conversations with children who show signs of sexual abuse, as well as the dos and don’ts when handling sensitive cases.
Every session was followed by a corresponding workshop that allowed participants to demonstrate what they have learned through mapping, sharing, and roleplay. Group activities included a compilation of the responses and policies of the participants’ respective schools regarding OSAEC, as well as simulations in dealing with children who have experienced abuse. This gave everyone an opportunity to share realizations, one’s own experiences on the reality of OSAEC in Philippine schools, and to formulate effective solutions to the issue with the help of one’s peers.
CEAP Vice-President Fr. Mauricio T. Ulep, CMF, in his closing remarks, thanked the resource persons for sharing their knowledge and expertise. All the sessions and workshops would be vital in helping schools understand the reality of OSAEC and how we can deliver the youth from such cases. He also thanked the CEAP 7 for their own warm hospitality in hosting the event, and expressed his hopes that the participants would apply their skills where they are most needed.
The numbers have shown that the reality of online sex abuse and exploitation of children in the Philippines can no longer be considered less than a crisis. Our hope largely lies in the proactive steps taken by schools and professionals to protect children and monitor their emotional and psychological development even beyond the boundaries of the classroom. In tapping the tools afforded by the sciences and the support of the families and communities of our children, we can make our schools safer and provide the best chances of fostering their growth in all aspects.