The Ministry of Women and Child Affairs has revealed information about an online trafficking network that allegedly creates groups on Facebook and other popular social media platforms to sell explicit images and private photographs of women and children for money.
The Ministry has given its full attention to the matter and is taking urgent measures to prevent women and children from becoming victims.
Based on preliminary information, the case has been referred to the Sri Lanka Police Bureau for the Prevention of Abuse of Children and Women and the Computer Crime Investigation Division for further investigations.
Investigations have also revealed attempts to use fake accounts to sell photographs and videos of women who are close relatives or members of the sellers’ own families.
Most of these illegal groups have reportedly been identified as being operated from overseas.
As women and children within families may face the risk of being exposed to such unsafe situations even from within their homes, parents have been urged to closely monitor their children’s social media use and the friends they associate with.
If anyone in a family has become a victim of or is involved in such online exploitation, immediate psychological and social counselling has been recommended.
The Ministry of Women and Child Affairs has introduced the following toll-free helplines for protection from such illegal activities and to obtain legal assistance:
1938 – Women’s Helpline
1929 – Child Helpline
Meanwhile, several social media activists have been publishing awareness posts and videos online to educate the public about this dangerous situation.
