In this pandemic, while we diligently take care of our bodies and ensure that we comply with safety and health protocol, we must also be watchful and mindful of abuses inflicted against the vulnerable sector like women and children, especially children.
In her article “During coronavirus lockdown: Abused women, children more vulnerable”, published this month in Rappler.com, P. Ranada said a drop in reported cases of abuse during ECQ and GCQ may not be good news as this could mean victims have a harder time reporting crimes to authorities.
PNP statistics show a drop in reported cases of violence against women and children and other gender-based abuse, however, this may not be the whole picture, the report revealed.
For instance, in locked-down Caloocan City, a 41-year-old woman was arrested for forcing her three kids to perform sexual acts on camera. The youngest victim was a five-year-old girl. Meanwhile, somewhere else in an undisclosed province in locked-down Luzon, a 25-year-old woman made seven kids execute lewd acts in front of a webcam. Four of the kids were her own children. The youngest victim was just three years old. These are just two cases of sexual abuse reported to authorities during the ECQ in Luzon.
What about in our own backyard? Are we aware of this type of abuse? Or are these closely hid? And if we learn that such is happening in our own neighborhood, do we report the violations as civic-minded citizens?
It may be noted that owing to COVID-19, our sense of community has been strengthened; sharpened; and noticeably felt. Villages and communities are unified; neighbors are talking and sharing information; and government is, well, aside from being either praised or criticized, drawn nearer to the populace. The gap is obviously reduced. It augurs well for the constituents. Hence, we are duty-bound to report incidents of this nature.
Ranada disclosed that watchdog groups had warned of an increase in such incidents because stay-at-home measures are locking in victims with their abusers. But government data show otherwise: the number of reported gender-based abuse cases and violence declined during ECQ and GCQ.
This could be interpreted both ways: reduced prevalence of abuse or something even more worrying – victims are unable to report, partly due to the quarantine measures themselves. The measures may have made it more difficult for a victim-survivor to report crimes.
According to the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), “limited mobility and the absence of public transportation” could discourage victim-survivors to report. Moreover, being constantly in the presence of abusers due to strict stay-at-home orders may also scare victims.
Only one in three Filipinas who have experienced physical or sexual violence sought help to stop the abuse, according to 2017 National Demographic and Health Survey undertaken by PSA. Women are also more likely to seek help from their own family (65 percent of women respondents) or a friend (18 percent), the survey said.
Additionally, in “Ensuring a safer online environment for children during quarantine”, a special report written by B. M. Beltran for BusinessWorld published last month, SaferKidsPH, a consortium of Save the Children Philippines, The Asia Foundation, and UNICEF, and funded by the Australian Government, is expanding its efforts to protect children against online sexual abuse and exploitation during ECQ and GCQ.
Beltran explained that with millions of children stuck at home, many have turned to the Internet as a resource for communication, education, and entertainment. But this has both advantage and disadvantage. Even as online platforms become avenues for learning and socializing, they can also expose children to sexual exploitation and abuse. More disturbingly, most cases of online sexual exploitation of Filipino children involve parents or family members as facilitators.
Data revealed that around seven million children are sexually abused in PH every year, with more than 70 percent of the children between 10 and 18 years old. Among the victims, 20 percent are under six years of age. Child sexual abuse is one of the most common issues confronting DSWD after abandonment and neglect. Despite the Anti-Rape Law of 1997, rape remains the most frequent type of sexual abuse, while a third or 33 percent is due to incest.
With all these information and data, we have an obligation to help protect our women and children.
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FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Eighty-seven percent of all cases of sexual violence are girls, 11.7 percent of which occurred in the family home. While victims of sexual exploitation for commercial purposes are predominantly 13-18 year-old girls, some of them were forced into prostitution from age 10 for the youngest ones. – 2015 Child Protection Network Annual Report
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