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Prostitutionthrivesbecauseofgenderinequalityandlackof respectforwomenshumanrightsclearlymanifestedonthe falsenotionthatwomenareinferior,sexualobjectsand commoditieswhilemenaresuperior,decisionmakersand ownersofproperties.Thesystemalsothrivesbecauseof complexsocioculturalandeconomicfactorspoverty,under education,unemploymentandeconomicdisparityandpower relations.,makingiteasierforthosewhohavemoremoney andpowertoexploitmorevulnerablepeopleandleadthem intoprostitutionandthesextrade.Womendonotmakea rationalchoiceinenteringprostitution;theysettlewiththe limitedoptionsavailabletothembearingconditionsof inequalitythataresetbythecustomerswhopaywomentodo whattheywantthemtodo.Atsomepoint,Statepolicieswhich aregenderblindontheissueofprostitutionmayevenresultin compromisingFilipinowomensbodilyintegritytosextourists, foreignandlocal,militaryandbigbusiness.Oursocietyhas madeprostitutionhiddeninplainsightalthoughitis everywhere,wetendtodisregardanddonotgivepriorityto addressingit. Article202oftheRPCasamendedbyR.A.101583provides:
Article202.Prostitutes;Penalty.Forthepurposesof thisarticle,womenwho,formoneyorprofit,habitually indulgeinsexualintercourseorlasciviousconduct,are deemedtobeprostitutes. Anypersonfoundguiltyofanyoftheoffenses coveredbythisarticleshallbepunishedbyarresto menororafinenotexceeding200pesos,andincaseof recidivism,byarrestomayorinitsmediumperiod toprisioncorrectionalinitsminimumperiodorafine
Statistics presented in the Privilege Speech of Senator Pia S. Cayetano on theAntiProstitutionBill(SBN2341),September26,2011 3 R.A.10158:AnActDecriminalizingVagrancy,AmendingArticle202ofRPC whichwasenactedonMarch27,2012repealedArticle202provisionsthat pertaintovagrancy,leavingbehindtheprovisionthatpenalizesprostitutes, notwithstandingtheirexploitationwithinthesystemofprostitution.
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Thecommonunderlyingcauseandwhatprimarilysustains bothprostitution,trafficking,andpornographyisdemand. Pornographyaccessedthroughinternetandmobiletelephony isthetheory;prostitutionandtraffickingforsexualpurposes arethepractice.Prostitutionhasbecomeinstitutionalized, organized,andglobalizedthroughhumantraffickingandthe internet.Differentformsofprostitutionthusexist,likestreet solicitation,bars,brothels,akyatbarko,massageparlors, escortservices,sextourism,cybersex,localandinternational sextrafficking.
Therearetoomanywomenandgirlswhoareluredto prostitution.Menandboysarealsobeingexposedforsexual purposes.Inthe1998studybytheInternationalLabor Organization(ILO),itwasestimatedthattherewereatleast 400,000to500,000prostitutedpersonsinthePhilippineswith anestimated60,000to100,000children.In2004,thenumber ofthoseexploitedinprostitutionalonereached600,000andit balloonedto800,000in2005.Ina2009study,therewere around800,000prostitutedpersonsinthePhilippines;halfof themarechildren.Annually,itisestimatedthat3,266children areforcedintoprostitution.ThePhilippinesranksfourth amongthenationswiththemostnumberofchildrenin
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SigmaHuda,UnitedNationsCommissiononHumanRights,Integrationof the Human Rights of Women and A Gender Perspective: Report of the Special Rapporteur on the human rights aspects of thevictims of trafficking inpersons,especiallywomenandchildren2006
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August 2013
rangingfrom200to2,000pesos,orboth,inthe discretionofthecourt.
WHAT ARE THE EXISTING LAWS OR POLICY ISSUANCES RELATED TO THE ISSUE?
ArticleII,Section11ofthe1987PhilippineConstitution providesthattheStatevaluesthedignityofeveryhuman personandguaranteesfullrespectforhumanrights.In addition,ArticleXIII,Section1statesthattheCongressshall givehighestprioritytotheenactmentofmeasuresthatprotect andenhancetherightsofallpeopletohumandignity,reduce social,economic,andpoliticalinequalities,andremovecultural inequitiesbyequitablediffusingwealthandpoliticalpowerfor thecommongood.
RA9710ortheMagnaCartaofWomen(MCW)specifically recognizedthatprostitutionisanactofviolenceagainst women(VAW)fromwhichwomenshouldbeprotected. Section12ofthislawprovidesfortheamendmentorrepealof lawsthatarediscriminatorytowomenwhich,amongothers, includeArticle202oftheRevisedPenalCode(RPC)onthe definitionofprostitution. RPCArticle341onWhiteSlaveTradeimposespenaltyof imprisonmentfrom2years,4monthsandonedayto6years uponanypersonwho,inanymanner,orunderanypretest, shallengageinthebusinessorshallprofitbyprostitutionor shallenlisttheservicesofanyotherforthepurposeof prostitution. RA9208asamendedbyRA10364ortheExpandedAnti TraffickinginPersonsActexplicitlydefinesprostitutionasany act,transaction,schemeordesigninvolvingtheuseofaperson byanother,forsexualintercourseorlasciviousconductin exchangeformoney,profitoranyotherconsideration.Italso
OnJune20,2013,theUSSupremeCourtissuedafarreaching 62decisioninthecaseofAgencyforInternational Developmentet.al.v.AllianceforOpenSocietyInternational, Inc.,et.al.9.Itruledthatthegovernmentmaynolongercompel USbasedAIDSfundingrecipientstoopposeprostitutionasa conditionofreceivingfederalfunding.Whilethisrulingonly appliestotheAntiProstitutionLoyaltyOath(APLO) requirementportionoftheGlobalAIDSAct10asviolativeofthe FirstAmendment,theCourtaffirmsthattheUSgovernment deemstheeradicationofprostitutiontobecentraltothefight againstHIV/AIDS11,andupholdstheCongressionalrightto spenditsfundsonselectedprogramsthatagreewiththis mission.Thus,thefederalgovernmentcancontinuenottofund anyspecificprogramsthatmaypromoteprostitution.
WHAT ARE THE CONSIDERATIONS IN ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE IN THE COUNTRY? Promoting womens rights and gender equality
Genderequalitywillremainunattainableaslongasmenbuy, sellandexploitwomenandchildrenbyprostitutingthem12. Addressingthesystemofprostitutionbypenalizingthereal culpritsinthesexindustry,meaningthetraffickers,pimps, customersorbuyersofsexandtheexploiters,and decriminalizingthosewhoareexploitedinthesystemof prostitution,willeventuallyleadtoeradicatetheproblemof prostitution.
Thisisalsoincludedasoneofthelegislativeagendaofthe socialdevelopmentsectorinthePhilippineDevelopmentPlan for20112016.AccordingtothePDP,thelegislationonanti prostitutionseekstoaddressthesystemofprostitution throughtheapprehensionandprosecutionofagents,recruiters, traffickers,pimps,procurers,establishmentowners,customers andotherswhoderivesexualgratification,financialgainorany otherbenefitfromtheprostitutionofanotherperson.Itshall alsocomplementthecurrentlawsonantitraffickingand violenceagainstwomen,inprotectingandpromotingtherights ofthevulnerablegroups,especiallywomenandchildren.
POLICY RECOMMENDATION
Itisworthwhiletonotethataddressingtheissueof prostitutionnecessarilystartswithstrengtheningthelegal frameworkwithinwhichlawenforcementagencieswork.There mustbesignificanteffortstoreducetheincidenceof
PCWPolicyBrief No.2
August 2013
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1. Redefineprostitutionasanyact,transaction, schemeordesigninvolvingtheuseofapersonby another,forsexualintercourseorlascivious conductinexchangeformoney,profitoranyother consideration. Definepersonexploitedinprostitutionora prostitutedpersontoreferto"awoman,manor childused,employed,orexploitedforanother person'ssexualgratificationorpleasure,andfor themonetarygainorprofitofothers. Targetthedemandside;criminalizethosewho exploitpeopleinprostitutiontheproblemof prostitutionwillbeeffectivelyaddressedifthose whofuelitsdemandarepenalized.Puttinginplace anationallawwhichexplicitlyidentifiesthosewho buypersonsinprostitutionandotherpeopleand businessesinvolvedinsuchactivitieswill eventuallyreduceitsdemand. Decriminalizewomeninprostitution;regardthem asvictimsNOTcriminalsthisconsistsonlyofthe removalofpenalsanctionstowomenin prostitution,withouttakinganyfurthermeasures toregulateorlegalizeprostitution.Thisshould recognizethatprostitutedpersonsarenot criminalsbutvictimsofthesystemofprostitution thatdeserveprotection,notpunishment.This, however,doesnotautomaticallyexempt prostitutedpersonswhothemselvescommitany
oftheprohibitedactsofprostitution(suchas pimpingotherpeople)fromcriminalliability. Establishsupportmechanismsforprostituted personstogetoutofthesystemofprostitution recognizethattheroadto recoveryforsurvivorsofprostitutionislongand arduous.Thegovernmentshallfacilitatethe provisionofsupportservicestovictimssuchas psychosocialcounselingtohelpthemintheir healingprocess;legalassistanceinordertoseek redressagainsttheperpetrators;andreferralto appropriatetrainingandothergovernment programsthatwillopenforthemdoorsto economicopportunities.
Therationaleforcriminalizationofthedemandsideisthat restrictivelawswilldeterindividualsfromtakingpartinthe activity,orfailingthat,theywillatleastbepunishedfortheact oftakingadvantageofanotherpersonsvulnerability.Itis aimedatensuringthatthosewhoinducepersonsinto prostitutionandthereafterexploitthemaredealtwith appropriately.Ontheotherhand,decriminalizationofthe prostitutedpersonsseemstobetheonlywaytoeliminating discriminatoryenforcementand,atthesametime,requiring thelawenforcementofficerstoprosecutecrimesperpetrated onthem.
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CONCLUSION
LegislativemeasurestoamendArticle202oftheRevisedPenal CodewerefiledinthepreviousCongressesbutwerenot approved.Tothisend,itiswithhopethatourlegislators, consistentwiththeirmandatesundertheConstitutionandthe MagnaCartaofWomen,shallgivehighestprioritytothe enactmentofmeasuresthatprotectandenhancetherightof allthepeopletohumandignityandfavortheimmediate enactmentofanantiprostitutionlaw.#
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PCWPolicyBriefsaimtostimulateinformeddiscourseandguidepolicyactionsonissuesconcerningthe empowermentofwomenandpromotionofgenderequality.
OFFICEOFTHEPRESIDENT