eng - World Organisation Against Torture

IV. PROTECTION AGAINST ALL FORMS OF VIOLENCE4.1 Child sexual abuse, traffickingand other forms of exploitation4.1.1. Legal FrameworkThe Philippines is a signatory party to theOptional Protocol to the CRC on the Sale ofchildren, child prostitution and child pornography(ratification on 28 May 2002).Realising that the sexual exploitation of childrenis a global menace, some countrieshave adapted their existing domestic law.These changes allow the local prosecution oftheir citizens who have abused children overseas.These countries include Australia,Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France,Germany, Iceland, Japan, New Zealand,Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and the USA.Countries in the process of changing theirlaws include Canada, Ireland, Italy and theUnited Kingdom. This change in the domesticlaws in these countries allowed thePhilippines to prosecute and incarcerate foreignersproven to have abused Filipino children.The Philippines is also a signatory to theCEDAW, upholding the right to be protectedfrom all forms of trafficking and prostitutionincluding sexual slavery, more generally andby the military, the deception of migrantwomen and “mail order” and false marriages.As also emphasised by the StockholmAgenda for Action, peer education programmescan be instrumental in counteringchild exploitation. The National Coalition ofChildren’s Associations in the Philippines isa body composed of 15 child representativesfrom 500 local Filipino children’s associationsworking for the defence of children’srights. Currently, the group of children is givingtheatre performances in schools and communitieson children’s rights, and paysspecial attention to the issue of sexual exploitation.A similar initiative is Tingong saKabataan, a radio programme by childrenvictims of sexual abuse for children in CebuCity aimed at the prevention of commercialsexual exploitation of children. 151515 - Economic and Social Council, Report submitted by JuanPetit, Special Rapporteur on the sale of children, child prostitutionand pornography, 5 January 2004, 60th session,Commission on Human Rights, E/CN/.4/2004/9, p. 21.