Child Pornography: A Clear and Present Danger

Child pornography in the Philippines is a little known issue owing to its clandestine operations but the magnitude of its impact on children's exploitation can be harrowing.

The Optional Protocol to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography, defines child pornography as "…any representation, by whatever meanns, of a child engaged in real or simulated explicit sexual activities or any representation of the sexual parts of a child for primarily sexual purposes." The Philippines being a State Party to both the UN CRC and aforesaid Optional Protocol is duty-bound to undertake all necessary measures to protect children from such life-threatening risk and degradation.

Pornographic exploitation of children is growing at an extremely alarming rate given the backdrop of poverty, sex trade and sex tourism, trafficking, and especially with evolving advanced technology and globalization. Recorded cases in the Philippines show children ages 12 to 17 are common prey. However, some reports involve victims even younger than age five.

Prostituted children, usually girls, become readily accessible subjects of pornographers. With the number of child sex workers placed between 40,000-100,000 (IBC Country Profile in the Philippines, undated) one can only be appalled at the enormity of exploitation these children suffer.

The large scale sex rings of pedophiles rake in profits from the very violation of children captured in video and sold in a lucrative business of pirated VCDs and DVDs. Young girls and boys are made to do unimaginable things in cybersex dens. Mobile phones and digital cameras, like the internet, facilitate speedy production, possession and distribution of pornographic photos and videos.

Poverty acts as a major push factor for children being caught in the web of child pornography especially those belonging to low income and extremely disadvantaged families. Street children particularly those plying the red light districts or notorious beach fronts are highly at risk.

Child pornography serves as a permanent testament to the sexual abuse of a child. It places the child in a hideous cycle of victimization and to far-reaching negative psychological effects.

The rampant problem in child pornography renders Republic Act 7610 insufficient and inefficient to protect and guard the children from such a terrible crime.



Dear Friends,

We urge you to support this on-line petition on anti child pornography for the President to act accordingly.

Please email this sample letter to the Office of the President of the Philippines at:

Office of the Executive Secretary: erermita@op.gov.ph
Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesperson: ops_edp@ops.gov.ph

Thank you!
PREDA Information Office
PREDA Foundation, Inc,


SAMPLE LETTER

Her Excellency Gloria Macapagal - Arroyo
President
Republic of the Philippines


RE: Senate Bill No. 2317 entitled "An Act Prohibiting Child Pornography, Imposing Penalties for the Commission Thereof and for Other Purposes" and House of Representatives, House Bill No.684 entitled “An Act Defining the Crime of Child Pornography, Imposing Penalties Thereof, and for Other Purposes


Dear President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo,


Please use everything in your power to certify as urgent this important bill. The protection of vulnerable children is of the highest importance and the "presidential certification" of the bill as "urgent" will guarantee its swift passing. The passage of the law will be a crowning achievement for the country, one that all of us globally can be proud of.


Thank you and we anticipate your positive action on this matter.




Sincerely,
(your name here)