Dr Elaine Byrnes: Why there is an urgent need for a holistic approach to combating child sexual abuse online

Ireland has a moral obligation to play a bigger role in the fight against online exploitation and abuse of children. Photo: Getty

Dr Elaine Byrnes

The online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC) in developing countries such as the Philippines is driven by demand from abusers in wealthier countries such as Ireland, who have a moral responsibility to do far more to tackle this huge global problem.

The Philippines has been described as the global epicentre for OSAEC, with figures estimating that half a million children there, or one in 100, experience it. Dublin City University is leading a two-year project on the supply of OSAEC activities there along with colleagues at De La Salle University (Manila) and anti-trafficking charity Justice and Care (London).