VICE President Sara Duterte on Sunday called for a strong campaign against child sexual abuse. “Every Filipino child has a right to grow up safe, with dignity, and full of dreams,” Duterte said in her message for the National Children’s Month. “This National Children’s Month let us strengthen our campaign against sexual abuse or exploitation of children,” she said in Filipino and English. Duterte lamented that “many children face risks from online predators, cyberbullying, and exploitation.” “Parents and citizens have a responsibility to protect them and make sure they are in a safe community,” she added. “To ensure their safety, let us bridge digital safety gaps, empower parents and caregivers with tools to guide safe internet use, and strengthen family values to protect our youth,” she pointed out. Duterte appealed to all local government units “to have a strict policy for the protection of children.” “The process of reporting, response and the next important steps must be fast and clear,” she said. “We should also promote the participation of the children in our campaign for us to understand their thoughts and aspirations, so that their best interest and welfare will be ensured — online or offline. The fate of every child is also the fate of our country.”