00:00She's just 13 years old, but her life has been filled with trauma. For two years, this
00:15Filipina girl was sexually abused by her adoptive parents. They filmed the assaults and broadcast
00:21their crimes live on the internet, all for just a few dollars. We're calling her Marie
00:26to protect her anonymity.
00:28At first, my parents didn't show my whole body, only certain parts. But over time,
00:34they started exposing everything, including my private parts. Then I saw the videos on a phone.
00:41I discovered that only people overseas were watching. I was unable to resist.
00:48Most of the online audience were Westerners. By watching,
00:52they were complicit in child sexual abuse, and they paid Marie's parents to watch online.
00:59When you see these people on the screen, are they young or rather old?
01:04Some seemed young, but most were much older.
01:11And did it happen often? Every day or just occasionally?
01:17Every day.
01:18Marie now lives in a shelter with her two brothers, who are also abused.
01:26Their adoptive parents were arrested in 2021 and are now awaiting trial.
01:34This new form of child sexual abuse exploded during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the capital
01:40Manila, Child Welfare Director Portia Manalad is in charge of protecting minors.
01:46During the pandemic, it increased by the number because most of the children are at home using
01:52the internet for their classes. It's easy, I think, for perpetrators abroad to communicate
01:58with the children. These police officers handle thousands of cases of online child sexual abuse.
02:04Their investigations are complex. The rapes are often committed by family members,
02:09and those paying to watch them live outside the Philippines.
02:13The investigators leave no stone unturned.
02:18There are also different accounts on social networks. For example, some videos are posted
02:22on TikTok. When we come across them, we try to find clues that could help us,
02:27like the colour of the child's clothes or details visible in the background.
02:32These videos are so horrific, they shock even experienced police officers.
02:37Seeing these videos is extremely difficult.
02:44You immediately feel that the child must be saved, that they must be rescued as soon as possible.
02:50It's something that deeply affects me. They are so young.
02:55Across the country, the crackdown on online child sexual abuse is gathering pace,
03:00as these law enforcement images show.
03:07After their parents are arrested, the children are placed in shelters,
03:11like this one run by a group called PREDA.
03:14The NGO has been helping victims of sexual abuse for more than 50 years.
03:18The number of internet child abuse cases tripled during the pandemic.
03:23In 2022, half a million minors were reportedly abused online.
03:28Poverty, easy access to the internet, inefficient justice system.
03:36So if you put all of these together, then you have a situation
03:41where children are abused and yet no one is punished for it.
03:45This shelter is home to 71 child survivors of sexual abuse.
03:49They're attempting to rebuild their lives with the help of counsellors.
03:52The healing process for all victims of abuse is always very difficult,
03:57but it is especially difficult when children are victims by their own families.
04:02It is important for them to say, to talk about what happened to them
04:07because they have to testify in court.
04:09Mari will soon testify at the trial of her adoptive parents.
04:13If convicted, they could face life imprisonment. Mari is conflicted.
04:19Why is it important to testify in court?
04:25For justice to be served.
04:28My parents must be convicted and imprisoned, but not with overly harsh sentences.
04:34What is needed is to punish them fairly, not too much, but not too little.
04:39She will not be permitted to leave the shelter until she's 18.
04:43Some children have other options, including being reunited with their families,
04:48but only under strict conditions.
04:50Today, a social worker is inspecting a survivor's family home.
04:54So there are eight of you living together at home?
04:57And who's taking care of this child?
04:59OK, I'll take a picture of the apartment.
05:01This girl was raped by her stepfather, who's now in prison.
05:05She hopes to return to live with her mother.
05:07Before that happens, NGO staff must be sure she'll be safe.
05:12We try to understand the living conditions of these children.
05:16Do they have their own room?
05:18Do the parents have their own space?
05:19Do they have access to water and electricity?
05:24Today's visit has gone well.
05:26The social worker is hopeful that the girl can soon rejoin her mother.
05:31But she remains cautious.
05:35We have cases where the reintegration of the child into the family leads to new abuses.
05:40Our social workers stay in touch with relatives, parents and even local authorities,
05:45like neighborhood leaders.
05:47We do this to prevent the abuse from happening again.
05:53Despite their efforts, cases of online child abuse are rising in the Philippines.
05:58According to UNICEF, an estimated one in five Filipino children
06:03suffer sexual abuse before they turn 18.
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