Why are Philippine senators and members of the House of Representatives delaying the completion and passing of vital, historic legislation that will raise the age of sexual consent from 12 years of age to 16, thus protecting children presently at grave risk of becoming victims of sexual abuse and sold as “baby brides” for the sexual gratification of old men?
Senate Bill 1373 or the Girls not Brides Act was passed on the third reading by the Senate by an overwhelming majority led by its main sponsor, Akbayan senator, Risa Hontiveros, who is the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality.
However, the House of Representatives has balked and so far has refused to pass a similar bill. That’s a big win for the child sexual abusers.
In the Senate, there are senators delaying the passage of an age of consent bill to raise the age of sexual consent from 12 to 16 years of age. When the US-based National Resource Centre cites that one in three girls and one in four boys are sexually raped and abused, delay is another big win for the paedophiles.
Recent reports show that many thousands of girl-children as young as 12 years of age worldwide and in the Philippines are being sold off to men 25-years-old and older in so-called “child marriages.”
The pandemic, poverty, loss of jobs and hardship are likely driving the huge increase in the sale of “child brides,” which is really child sexual abuse and a cover for pedophilia. It is a tactic to evade child protection laws. It has to be stopped.
A child cannot exercise free will and give consent to such a relationship when under the pressure from parents and adults. In most cases, there is no formal wedding ceremony. The child is forced to live-in with the older man. A payment or “dowry” in kind or cash is common—two healthy goats will get you a 15-year-old in some villages. But this abusive relationship is a serious violation of human rights.
Philippine law defines the age of a child as below 18 and, while a minor under 18 cannot drive a vehicle or drink alcohol, a 12-year-old can have sex with a 40-year-old man, and they call it marriage. Why this has been allowed to go on for generations?
UNICEF says “The right to free and full consent to a marriage is recognised in the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in many subsequent human rights instruments—consent cannot be ‘free and full’ when at least one partner is very immature.”
Philippine law defines the age of a child as below 18 and, while a minor under 18 cannot drive a vehicle or drink alcohol, a 12-year-old can have sex with a 40-year-old man, and they call it marriage. Why this has been allowed to go on for generations?
It speaks of a wicked and deviant element in society, a social evil, where the ruling powers have conspired to keep it that way. Church leaders did not and do not speak out, express moral outrage, protest and campaign for a change in the law to protect vulnerable children.
The powers-that-be have remained quiet, to pleasure of paedophiles in high and low positions of authority. It is convenient to salve consciences by rationalising that a 12-year-old or 14 or 16-year-old gave consent” however grossly immoral it is. Children are brainwashed into believing that the older man loves them because he gives them nice things.
As we celebrate the 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines. The Chaplaincy to Filipino Migrants organises an on-line talk every Tuesday at 9.00pm. You can join us at:
https://www.Facebook.com/CFM-Gifted-to-give-101039001847033
In the Philippines, a recent survey in Zambales discovered that many children as young as 12- to 16-years-old have been sold to older men as “brides” in return for payment.
Child sexual abuse under the guise of consent and so called ‘child marriages’ has been condoned by the powerful for generations. The child cannot say no or complain because she has no choice
The shocking reality today is that one in every three girls is sexually abused worldwide and it applies to the Philippines. The abusers are the biological father, uncle, stepfather, live-in partner of the mother, brother, cousin, neighbour, a pastor, or priest or a powerful person. Some 13-to 16-year-old trafficked children are even raped by their so-called “rescuers”—a horrid crime recently discovered and soon to be exposed. Then some will meet their destiny.
The practice of denial, cover up and a culture of enforced silence is placed on the child-victims and on their families to protect society, institutions, charities, civic organisations, Churches and the powerful.
It is a culture of silence to protect the guilty, those responsible and to avoid the shame and, in recent times, to avoid severe legal consequences. The so-called “consent” by a child to “marriage” is really fear of punishment, disapproval, and denial of parental love and support.
The child is frightened into subservience and docility, and too terrified to cry out, scream and run and tell. Most times there is no one to tell, no one to listen, no one who cares.
Child sexual abuse under the guise of consent and so called “child marriages” has been condoned by the powerful for generations. The child cannot say no or complain because she has no choice.
Now, what could be more depraved than to cover up child sexual abuse and try to avoid penalties of strict anti-child abuse laws laid out in RA [Republic Act] 7610 by declaring that the relationship was approved by “marriage?” The “Child Bride” defense for pedophilia is common. If a man rapes a child and then offers to marry her and pay a dowry, many parents frequently approve it.
This is a crime and cultural depravity. The new law will stop it.
A recent study conducted in Zambales province, mentioned above, showed that among poor villagers the practice is widespread. Mavie [not her real name] is 12-year-old and her parents “married” her off to a 20-year-old man in return for payment. She had no say in it.
He treats the child as his “wife’ and has regular sexual acts with her. The child says she wants to go to school like any child. Even worse, the parents allow the man to live in their bamboo-thatched hut with their daughter. A semi-illiterate 12-year-old girl cannot freely consent to such an act and is usually forced into it.
Hopefully readers will be shocked out of complacency and indifference and not ignore the problem. It is our collective responsibility to fight for child rights. Reach for your keyboard and send an email to the following to get their attention and attach and send them this article.
House speaker, Lord Allan Velasco, at speakerlordvelasco@house.gov.ph and Senate president, Vicente C. Sotto III, at os_sotto@yahoo.com.
Father Shay Cullen
shaycullen@gmail.com • www.preda.org
