Online Sexual Exploitation of Children

A Global Crisis With Local Consequences

Every second, a child is exploited online. You can help stop it.

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.

What is Online Sexual Exploitation?

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. 

Childlight Global

Why Southeast Asia is Especially Vulnerable

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.

How Hagar Responds:

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

You Can Protect a Child Today

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. 

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