A report released by Norway’s National Criminal Investigation Service (Kripos) highlights a disturbing trend: many young victims of direct-order sexual abuse involving Norwegian buyers are from the Philippines. This form of exploitation, known as direct-order-based sexual abuse (DOBO), involves live-streamed abuse at the request of buyers.
The October 23 report identifies the Philippines as a hotspot for such abuses, with systemic factors including a legacy of commercial sex industries, English proficiency, robust internet infrastructure, and readily available payment systems making it a focal point for international DOBO networks. Exploitation is often family-based, with 41% of the sellers identified as biological parents and 42% as other relatives of the victims.
Financial hardships drive this exploitation, according to interviews from Terre des Hommes, a Swiss children’s rights group, revealing that families frequently turn to DOBO to cover basic expenses. The report also notes the distressing median age of victims as 11, with most being girls.
Between 2011 and 2017, Kripos focused on Norwegian buyers, finding that these transactions often involve extensive networks. Families and local communities often collaborate in such cases, bartering children or sharing contact information to maximize profits.
