eng - World Organisation Against Torture

in the State party’s domestic legislationand that the Revised Penal Code(Republic Act No. 3815) imposes maximumpenalties for sexual offences whenthe victim is under 12 years of age butimposes lower penalties for sexual offencesagainst minors over 12 years ofage.86. The Committee welcomes the adoptionof, in 2003, the new Anti-Trafficking inPersons law and other measures taken bythe State party in the areas of preventionof trafficking and protection of victims,such as the establishment of Anti-IllegalRecruitment Coordination Councils, theTrade Union Child Labour Advocate initiativeand the establishment of anExecutive Council to suppress traffickingin persons particularly women andchildren. But the Committee is gravelyconcerned about trafficked Philippinechildren both within the country andacross borders. The Committee expressesits concern about existing riskfactors contributing to trafficking activities,such as persistent poverty, temporaryoverseas migration, growing sextourism and weak law enforcement in theState party.87. The Committee urges the State party to:(a) Review its domestic laws on the protectionof children against sexualexploitation, including the use of childrenfor pornography, in order to provideall child victims of such exploitation withequal protection, inter alia, by includingin the law equal sanctions to all perpetratorsof sexual offences against children;(b) Set a clearly defined minimum age ofsexual consent at an internationally acceptablelevel in its domestic law;(c) Conduct a comprehensive study toassess the causes, nature and extent ofcommercial sexual exploitation and traffickingof children;(d) Provide adequate programmes of assistanceand reintegration for sexuallyexploited and/or trafficked children inaccordance with the Declaration andAgenda for Action and the GlobalCommitment adopted at the First andSecond World Congresses againstCommercial Sexual Exploitation ofChildren;89