Two girls rescued from online sex abuse in the Philippines after Austrian police referral

Tarlac, THE PHILIPPINES – IJM assisted authorities in the rescue of two girls from online sexual exploitation (OSEC) earlier this month. Two women, including the mother of one of the victims, were arrested in the same operation.

The case originated with an Austrian man who, between 2017 and February 2021, received over 100 videos and 500 images depicting the sexual exploitation of children. Thanks to a referral from Austrian police to the Philippine Internet Crimes Against Children Center (PICACC), the Philippines’ National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) were able to identify two women who sent the Austrian suspect child abuse material in exchange for money. The man had travelled to the Philippines in 2017, 2018 and 2019 where he met with the Filipina suspects together with the two victims.

The NBI were also able to identify two female victims, aged 12 and 15, and their relationship to the two suspects. National law enforcement, with support from IJM and local police, brought the girls to safety in an operation on 3 March 2022. Government social services are working to find a specialised shelter for the two girls.

“I am very grateful for the sustained partnership between the Philippine Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), International Justice Mission (IJM), and Austrian Police that work alongside with us in the fight against the online sexual exploitation of children,” said Atty Janet Francisco, Chief of the NBI’s Anti-Human Trafficking division. “Through these strong partnerships we were able to identify and rescue these two girls from online sexual exploitation.”

Atty Reynaldo Bicol Jr, Director of IJM’s Manila office, said, “We commend our law enforcement partners at NBI for their relentless efforts to rescue and protect children amidst a pandemic. A strong justice system seeks perpetrator accountability, creates deterrence, and protects, not only the children rescued, but also countless others who will never be abused.”

This operation was one of four recent operations supported by IJM across the province of Luzon. As a result of these operations, a total of 13 children have been rescued from online sexual exploitation.

OSEC, often involving livestreamed child abuse, is the fastest growing major crime in the world with a hotspot in the Philippines. Since 2011, IJM has worked with Philippine law enforcement to rescue over 919 victims and arrest 291 suspects.

The PICACC is a cooperation among local and international law enforcement, namely the Philippine National Police’s Women and Children Protection Center (PNP-WCPC), the National Bureau of Investigation’s Anti-Human-Trafficking Division (NBI-AHTRAD), the Australian Federal Police (AFP), and the United Kingdom National Crime Agency (UK NCA); in partnership with non-government organisation, International Justice Mission (IJM).

Note to Editors: 

The Terminology Guidelines for the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse, also known as the Luxembourg Guidelines, prescribes the use of the term “child sexual abuse material” or “child sexual exploitation material” instead of “child pornography”, except when referencing the name of statute. Sexualised material that depicts or otherwise represents children is a representation, and a form, of child sexual abuse and should not be described as “pornography.”