DMW stimulates a campaign against child pornography and sexual abuse in maritime shipping

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has directed crew services to include seminars on the law against online sexual abuse and exploitation of children in pre-departure orientation for seafarers.

The DMW released the directive after receiving reports of increasing incidents of arrests and detention of Filipino seafarers on cruise ships in the United States for child pornography and sex-related crimes.

“The DMW is an active member of the IACAT and we will not tolerate any form of exploitation of children, especially when the circumstances involve our Filipino seafarers,” DMW Secretary Hans Cacdac said in a statement, referring to the Inter-Agency Council Against Human trafficking.

DMW’s Advisory No. 33, Series of 2024, cites the prohibited acts contained in Republic Act No. 11930, such as knowingly subscribing to, participating in, donating to, or supporting websites that depict child sexual abuse and exploitation; possession of child sexual abuse or exploitation material; and access to all forms of child pornography.

The DMW expects Filipino seafarers to “uphold the highest ethical standards” during their onboarding.

“United States federal and state laws also criminalize the production or promotion of child pornography and prosecute individuals who possess, view, transport, and distribute child pornography, even if committed in private places,” the advisory said.

All crew agencies are also directed to cooperate with law enforcement authorities and “provide competent legal assistance and representation during searches, arrests, custodial investigations and preliminary hearings for their accused seafarers,” the DMW said in its advisory. —Vince Angelo Ferreras/KBK, GMA Integrated News