LAPU-LAPU CITY, Cebu, Oct. 16 (PNA) — Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza has expressed her support to the celebration of the 22nd National Children’s Month as she emphasized the awareness and cooperation of stakeholders in the prevention of cyberporn operations and prostitution.
“A simple click is all what it takes to get something, to keep in touch with someone, and to get into places,” she said during the forum on “Child Cyber-Prostitution: Highlighting Programs, Services and Initiatives of the Duty Bearers and Service Providers.”
Radaza said the Internet has been helpful in children’s school research.
She said this modern technology did not exist in the past generation where a simple calculator was already considered a luxury.
“It has been tough preventing and fighting crimes,” she said.
Radaza said the confidence of the anonymous perpetrators lurking behind the walls of free Internet are disturbing, destroying the innocence of the young and the naïve.
She said poverty has pushed the children to cybersex and prostitution and are the most affected by cyber crimes.
She said that few months ago, she and Rep. Aileen Radaza of the lone district of Lapu-Lapu City initiated a call to stop cybersex and prostitution and adopted the slogan, “I am not for sale,” a stand against abuses and exploitation last March 3 this year during the celebration of Women’s Month.
The intensive information dissemination has reached the barangay level, she said.
The drive is held in cooperation with the city’s Social Welfare and Development Office, the Philippine National Police, Department of Education and non-government organizations.
She said support groups such as International Justice Mission and the Children’s Legal Bureau have been effective partners in the battle against cybercrime, aside from people’s organizations and civil society groups.
She said concerned citizens are participating and “victims even voluntarily approached us and availed our help and support.”
She said the victims also give them leads to the prostitution culprits. (PNA)