Child Rescue Coalition’s mission to combat online child exploitation is driven by global collaboration, advanced technology, and the dedication of professionals working to protect children around the world. Among them is Jewel Dela Cruz, Child Rescue Coalition’s Philippine Tech Program Manager. She is a lawyer, litigator, and an international child protection advocate whose career has focused on advancing justice for vulnerable communities.

Before joining Child Rescue Coalition, Jewel served as the Country Program Manager for the International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children, where she led national partnerships with government agencies, law enforcement, and private sector stakeholders to combat online child sexual exploitation.

Her work has taken her from Philippine courtrooms to international legal institutions, including a role as a Visiting Professional at the International Criminal Court in The Hague, where she worked alongside judges and legal officers on cases of global significance. She has also been invited by organizations including Europol, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and the French Presidency of the Council of the EU to share her expertise on child protection, digital forensics, and international justice.

Jewel holds a Master of Laws in Forensics, Criminology, and Law from Maastricht University, a Juris Doctor degree, and a Business Administration degree. In addition to her legal work, she has taught courses on human rights, gender, and digital law in Philippine law schools and regularly serves as a lecturer for the Supreme Court’s Mandatory Continuing Legal Education program.

At Child Rescue Coalition, Jewel now helps expand Child Rescue Coalition’s presence in the Philippines by strengthening partnerships with key stakeholders and supporting law enforcement agencies in their efforts on perpetrator accountability.

“While Child Rescue Coalition is established in Europe and the U.S., we are only starting our work in the Philippines, it is critical to introduce the organization, understand the local and cultural nuances of the issue, and work alongside Philippine agencies committed to child protection,” Jewel explained.

Through collaboration with partners such as the Philippine National Police and the National Bureau of Investigation, Jewel works to introduce our technology – offered for free of charge to law enforcement agencies across the world – and strengthen efforts to identify offenders targeting children through digital platforms.

Understanding the Landscape

The Philippines has been widely recognized as a global hotspot for online sexual abuse or exploitation of children (OSAEC), a complex issue shaped by a combination of technological access, economic vulnerability, and global demand.

“The Philippines is consistently ranked among the top users of Facebook and social media worldwide,” Jewel explained. “Digital communication is deeply embedded in everyday life, coupled with wide use of English language in the country, making online interaction incredibly accessible.”

Online platforms can create the illusion of distance, but the consequences for children are severe and long-lasting. Once exploitative material is created, it can circulate indefinitely across the internet, compounding the trauma for these victims.

The Exploitation Network

Through her work in investigations and child protection advocacy, Jewel explains that online sexual exploitation of children often functions through a system involving multiple parts with different typologies that evolve so quickly.

In a live-streaming exploitation typology, there generally are demand-side perpetrators or the consumers that pay for abuse, and supply-side facilitators who enable it,” she explained. “In the middle of all of it are the children.”

Demand-side offenders are often located in other countries and seek out exploitative content online. Facilitators are individuals who enable or arrange this exploitation and are within the child’s immediate environment. In many cases, these facilitators are people the child knows. This dynamic displays the devastating complexity of online exploitation.

Economic Vulnerability and Exploitation

Economic hardship can also play a role in enabling exploitation networks.

“One transaction can be as little as 500 Philippine pesos,” she said which is roughly 8 dollars and fifty cents.

Such reality underscore the need for comprehensive, whole-of-government responses that combine law enforcement action, social services, and international cooperation.

Strengthening Global Collaboration

Despite these challenges, Jewel emphasizes that the Philippines is also home to the most dedicated child protection advocates and organizations. Many countries send liaison officers working particularly to combat online child exploitation.

The Philippines sees strong collaborative efforts among law enforcement agencies, government institutions, non-profit organizations, and international partners towards strengthening investigative capabilities and ultimately protecting children.

Child Rescue Coalition’s technology – provided free of charge to the law enforcement partners – supports these efforts by understanding the operational challenges and working alongside partners in the country in identifying solutions.

Jewel believes that with continued stakeholder collaboration, a global approach, and technological innovation, the narrative can change.

“We don’t want the Philippines to only be known as a hotspot for exploitation,” she said. “There is so much potential for the Philippines to become a leader in identifying offenders and protecting children.”

A Global Mission to Protect Children

Online child exploitation is a global crime that requires a coordinated international response. Through professionals like Jewel Dela Cruz and partnerships with law enforcement agencies worldwide, Child Rescue Coalition continues working to equip investigators with the tools they need to identify offenders and safeguard children.

By strengthening global cooperation and advancing technology-driven investigations, Child Rescue Coalition remains committed to its mission: protecting children and holding those who exploit them accountable.

 

Strengthening Investigations Worldwide

Child Rescue Coalition continues to expand its partnerships with law enforcement agencies around the world by providing specialized training and technology that help investigators identify offenders and protect vulnerable children online.

Agencies interested in learning more about our technology or hosting a technology training are encouraged to connect with our team to explore opportunities for collaboration.

Together, through education, technology, and global cooperation, we can strengthen investigations, identify offenders faster, and help safeguard children from exploitation worldwide.