This represents an estimated 100,000 children who may have been subjected to sexual exploitation and abuse within a single year.

It includes being blackmailed to engage in sexual activities, having their images shared without permission, and being coerced to engage in sexual activities through promises of money or gifts.

Unicef’s Disrupting Harm in Malaysia report also found that 12 out of the 38 children who had experienced online sexual exploitation and abuse did not tell anyone.

“They were more likely to disclose their situation to a friend or a sibling. Meanwhile, only one reported to a hotline whereas none contacted the police,” it said.

Some of the children did not inform anyone about what happened to them because they were embarrassed and feared being shamed or getting themselves or their caregiver into trouble.

“Other barriers stopping children from reporting online sexual exploitation and abuse that frontline workers shared with us include the taboo and stigma around sexuality, lack of knowledge on the issue and how to report it,” the report said.

It also revealed that offenders were more often to be someone unknown to the child.

“However, this doesn’t mean that individuals in the child’s immediate circle are not also implicated. They also mostly appear to be under the age of 18, followed by an adult acquaintance or friend and a family member,” it said.

The report also found that the children mainly experienced online sexual exploitation and abuse through major social media platforms, most commonly WhatsApp, Facebook, WeChat or Telegram.