Online Sexual Exploitation of Children
Online sexual exploitation of children (OSEC) is one of the fastest-growing forms of abuse worldwide. In Cambodia and across Southeast Asia, the crisis is intensified by poverty, gender inequality, and limited child protection systems.
Online sexual exploitation is abuse that happens on the internet. It can include grooming, coercion, blackmail, and the sharing of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Children are often targeted through social media, messaging apps, and even by peers.
“In Cambodia, 1 in 10 internet-using children aged 12-17 have experienced online sexual exploitation.”
– UNICEF
Globally, over 300 million children are victims of online sexual exploitation each year.
In countries like Cambodia, the internet is expanding rapidly, but child protection systems are not keeping pace. Many children (and their parents!) lack digital literacy. When abuse occurs, stigma and silence often prevent them from seeking help, or pursuing justice.
Hagar works to prevent, intervene, and restore:
Investigations
to identify victims and bring perpetrators to justice
Survivor care
including trauma counseling, safe housing, legal aid, and long-term support
Prevention
education in schools and communities to stop abuse before it starts
Your donation helps girls like Dara escape exploitation and begin to heal. With your support, we can expand our reach, train more frontline responders, and ensure every child is seen, heard, and safe.
Online sexual exploitation is a global crisis—but in Southeast Asia, the consequences are especially devastating. In Cambodia, girls face abuse without the safety nets many of us take for granted. This post explores the scope of the issue, why it’s
