HomeUnited NationsPhilippines: Rights expert urges greater action to combat child sexual exploitation

Philippines: Rights expert urges greater action to combat child sexual exploitation

Mama Fatima Singhateh, Unique Rapporteur on the sale plus sexual exploitation of children, came to the conclusion an 11-day visit to the country on Friday, where the lady met with government authorities, UN agencies, civil community representatives, faith-based leaders, diplomats, and local boys and girls.   She recommended a recent law that requires social media platforms and internet service providers to step up efforts in order to counter sexual abuse associated with young people.  

System intended for crime detection 

The legal rights expert urged the government plus stakeholders to ramp up initiatives to combat child trafficking, child marriage, the sale for children through illegal ownership, sexual exploitation of children in the context of travel plus tourism, as well as teenage pregnancy.   Special Rapporteurs like Ms. Singhateh are usually appointed by the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.     She added that greater attention should be given to the issue of sexual exploitation in the context of tourism and transactional sex.  

Support vulnerable children 

The authorities also had been urged to scale upward support to vulnerable organizations, including children with afflictions and those from indigenous, ethnic and minority communities.     “The Philippines must set up a robust system for detection of crimes, complaint handling and enhancing capacities of authorities and social workers associated with child protection, to provide meaningful support and rehabilitation in order to victims and survivors, ” she stated .   “Officials in this sector usually do not appear to have adequate home elevators the issues, scope and manifestations of sexual exploitation in the context of travel and tourism, they will require comprehensive training and sensitisation about this issue, ” she said in the statement .   These professionals are mandated to monitor plus report on specific nation situations or thematic issues.       “It is important in order to allocate adequate resources and adopt a child-centred, trauma-informed, age and gender-sensitive approach to mitigate amplified risks to vulnerable children, ” the lady said.     These are independent of any federal government or organization, operate in their individual capacity, and are none UN staff nor could they be paid for their work.  

Regarding UN Rapporteurs 

She noted, for example , that explicit legal provision is certainly lacking in the laws to penalise the sexual exploitation of children within the travel plus tourism industry.     Ms. Singhateh also was encouraged when i say good practices, such as the operation of the centre which provides one-stop medical, psychiatric and social welfare services, but highlighted the need for more action.   Ms. Singhateh will present a report of her findings plus recommendations to the Council in March. Pointing to gaps and challenges, Ms Singhateh has suggested development of a centralised accurate disaggregated data on situations, and cases of child sexual abuse and exploitation.    

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