Anne Curtis has taken to Twitter to urge the Philippine Congress to pass a law that raises the age of sexual consent from 12 to at least 16.
The Anti-Rape Law of 1997 currently sets the age for determining statutory rape at “below 12 years old” and that any child aged exactly 12 and above is legally deemed mature enough to give sexual consent to another person.
“Can you believe, at 12 years old an adult can have sex with a child & claim it’s consensual? This makes me sick in the tummy,” Anne began in a series of Tweets. “You aren’t even legally allowed to get married, vote, get a license yet… but this is allowed?”
She then stressed that this issue should be urgently addressed by lawmakers, citing data from the Department of Social Welfare and Development that shows that “most victims of rape and child incest are between the age of 14 to below 18.”
“I stand with UNICEF as they call on the Philippine Congress to IMMEDIATELY pass a law that increases the age of statutory rape to at least 16,” Anne continued.
The UNICEF goodwill ambassador also expressed that male victims of rape and abuse should receive the same protection. “Another concern that should be given light is how equally vulnerable boys are to rape hence an amendment should be made to the Anti-rape law where the perpetrators should be equally punished. It doesn’t matter if the child is a boy or a girl. The trauma these children suffer from is exactly THE SAME. They should have equal protection rights,” she added.
“With the opening of congress happening soon I believe this to be a grave matter, [especially] during this time where children are potentially more at risk. HEAR US and PROTECT THE CHILDREN.”
The House of Representatives approved the bill to raise the age of sexual consent last December 2020.
(ALSO READ: UNICEF Ambassador Anne Curtis’ Fundraiser for Baby Dahlia Raises 1.8 Million for Children’s Programs)
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