In a 2016 report released by UNICEF, the Philippines was dubbed the global epicenter of the live-stream sexual abuse trade. Cebu, which My Refuge House (MRH) – a non-government organization providing residential and community-based services to survivors of human trafficking and abuse– calls home, was flagged as a hotspot and continues to see an alarming number of young children getting groomed online for the purpose of sexual exploitation, parents recording the abuse of their daughters and sons to make ends meet, and perpetrators manufacturing and distributing child sexual abuse materials. Cognizant of the needs of online sexual abuse of children (OSEC) survivors, MRH opened its doors to deliver trauma-informed, culturally-sensitive, and restorative practices to Cebuana children and young women who were rescued from online exploitation. It also ramped up its efforts to reach local communities – from schools and churches to government offices – and spread awareness about risks children may encounter online and the ways virtual platforms have been utilized to prey on the vulnerable. This presentation will delve into the therapeutic interventions and tailored programs that MRH’s service providers designed to promote healing and restoration. Focusing on the pillar of restoration, the presenters will share behavior management strategies that worked with Filipino children and how they transformed to incorporate cultural strengths to foster wellbeing. Moreover, the presenters will highlight how they approached the pillar of prevention by facilitating community capacity-building sessions, leading awareness campaigns against OSAEC, and organizing youth leaders.
Trigger Warning: This presentation contains information (written, spoken, or visual) that may be triggering or (re)traumatizing to attendees.
Jedaia Rose Doñoz is the Therapeutic Aftercare and Advocacy Manager of My Refuge House (MRH), an NGO that provides residential services to trafficking and abuse survivors. She currently leads MRH’s clinical program in giving trauma-informed interventions to survivor-participants, and spearheads its advocacy program, iSpeak, in providing free seminars on violence-related issues.
Geselle Saclot is the Residential Social Worker of MRH and a licensed social worker who leads the provision of trauma-informed, culturally sensitive, and restorative services to human trafficking survivors. She has managed the cases of participants for the past several years.
Fatima Lozano serves as the Family and Community Development Officer of MRH. A close collaborator of the survivors’ families, she helps them prepare for the eventual reintegration of the participants by assessing their needs, referring them to the right institutions, and equipping them with appropriate resources.
A registered social worker, Jaden Kaye Empuerto leads the prevention program under MRH. As the Survivor and Advocacy Officer, she’s involved in both clinical and prevention efforts, advocating for and monitoring reintegrated trafficking survivors and empowering communities to combat human trafficking.