Terre des Hommes Netherlands in the Philippines together with its Down to Zero Alliance partners, ECPAT Philippines and Plan International conducted a capacity building session last February 28-March 1, 2022. This served as an opportunity for the alliance members to discuss together and learn effective and innovative ways in enhancing children’s safeguarding and protection from child sexual exploitation both online and offline. The session has three main objectives : increase individual and collective capacities to engage with different target groups such as CSOs, private sectors and government decision makers to raise the issue of SEC and demand action to address gaps in policy and program implementation, acquire knowledge and skills on innovative solutions providing services to children , and to share practices on sexual exploitation of children prevention and response. Resource persons were from UNICEF Philippines, ECPAT Philippines and the Department of Information and Communications Technology -Cybersecurity Unit .

Child advocates from the different local implementing partners took part in the session and were also encouraged to share their experiences and good practices in SEC prevention and response especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.