The situation is alarming: between 60,000 and 100,000 minors are trapped in sexual exploitation in the Philippines. This includes prostitution, sex tourism, videos of child rape, sometimes ordered live, (called “livestreaming”) and other activities implying sexual violence. Children are used for commercial purposes, mostly in exchange for remuneration.
State of child protection in the Philippines and obstacles to law enforcement
The Philippines is the 4th country in the world with the most child prostitutes, and is also in the top 10 countries producing the most child criminal content.
However, in 1990 the Philippines signed the International Convention on the Rights of the Child (CIDE). It obliges States parties to recognize “the right of the child to be protected against economic exploitation and not to be forced into any work” and to “commit to protecting children against all forms of sexual exploitation and sexual violence”. This convention also stipulates that each signatory State has the obligation to do everything to prevent the kidnapping, sale or trafficking of children.
However, despite a legislative environment favorable to the establishment of public child protection policies, several social, economic and cultural factors obstruct their application.
Financial pressure can push families to exploit their own children as means of subsistence. Furthermore, corruption contributes to this exploitation by offering those responsible an escape from justice, thus reinforcing impunity and hindering the fight against child crime.
Our actions to prevent and combat the sexual exploitation of children
Since 1997, we have welcomed and protected 432 girls victims of sexual violence in our three centers for an average period of three years, allowing them to benefit from individualized, long-term support.
Our objective: help them to heal. After the trauma they experienced, in a secure and caring environment offering access to health, education and legal follow-up, and also giving them the opportunity to carry out therapeutic activities adapted to their age and fun such as circus, sport, yoga, or even Animal-Assisted Therapy.
On this World Day of Fight Against Sexual Exploitation, CAMELEON reaffirms the importance of leading a massive mobilization to put an end to this scourge.
Support our actions
The fight against the sexual exploitation of children is an everyday battle, and it is essential to support actions aimed to break the silence and offer a safer and more dignified future for these children.
Sources :
ECPAT. 2011. Global Monitoring : Status of Action Against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children – Philippines. https://ecpat.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/a4a_v2_eap_philippines-1.pdf
ECPAT Philippines. 2016. Stop Sex Trafficking of Children & Young People. https://ecpat.org.ph/about/
UNICEF Philippines. 2018. Situation Analysis of Children in the Philippines. https://www.unicef.org/philippines/reports/situation-analysis-children-philippines
UNICEF. 1990. International Convention on the Rights of the Child https://www.unicef.fr/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/convention-des-droits-de-lenfant.pdf