Earlier this month I met with participating children and coaches who are part of the Australia-supported “Football for Humanity Foundation” program, which uses sports to educate and empower vulnerable children about the dangers of online sexual abuse and exploitation. We were very happy to see how the partnership has grown, and is now helping children in 40 hotspot communities across this country.
Since 2019 the Australian government has been supporting its Philippine counterpart to raise public awareness on child online safety, as well as improve the capacity of police and courts to detect, investigate and prosecute cases on online abuse and exploitation of children through the “SaferKidsPH” initiative.
While Australia continues its support in combatting online sexual abuse and exploitation of children through our development, law enforcement and financial-intelligence tie-ups, succeeding in this goal needs coordinated and multisectoral response from governments and stakeholders, including the private sector.
With more than 350 ANZCHAM member-companies, the partnership aims to bring the conversation to the members’ respective organizations, and eventually to their employees’ own homes.