‘Fitting gift for Nat’l Children’s Month’: Child rights advocates laud bicam passage of End Child Rape Bill

We are one step closer to passing a law that will provide stronger protection for children against sexual violence. 

This is the message of Child Rights Network as the bicameral conference committee for the “Increasing the Age of Statutory Rape” Bill, more popularly known as the End Child Rape Bill, concludes its deliberations on the bill, passing a consolidated version of the Senate and House versions.

“The whole community of children’s rights advocates and organizations waited with bated breath, with the bicam deliberations taking longer than expected. Yet this did not dishearten advocates, and now, we are close to passing a law against child rape. This development comes in time for the celebration of National Children’s Month, and as such, we deem it as a very welcome and fitting gift for Filipino children,” said CRN Convenor Romeo Dongeto.

With the bicam consolidating Senate Bill 2332 and House Bill 7836, what is left is for both houses to approve the bicameral report before finally submitting the bill to the president for signing into law.

“We thank our legislators for hearing our collective plea to expedite the passage of the End Child Rape Bill. Time is of the essence in this issue, as every day the bill is stuck in the legislative limbo is another day when Filipino children are not afforded the law’s best protection against sexual abuse and exploitation,” Dongeto stressed.

‘A gift that keeps on giving’

“The bicam passage of the End Child Rape Bill is a welcome respite amid the pandemic. There is no better way to celebrate National Children’s Month than with the passage of this landmark legislation. Generations of Pinoy kids will indeed benefit from this bill,” Dongeto said.

CRN noted that the End Child Rape Bill is a “gift that keeps on giving,” as it contains essential provisions that increase the age for determining the commission of statutory rape from below 12 years old to below 16 years old, equalize protection for victims of rape, whether a boy or a girl, and adopt a “sweetheart clause,” a crucial provision to ensure that adolescents who are close in age and who engage in consensual, non-abusive, and non-exploitative sex are not tagged as sex offenders.

“Once signed into law, this bill will herald an era where children are better protected against the heinous crime of rape,” Dongeto said.

“We again thank our champion legislators for being a constant ally in the long march child rights advocates took towards this bill’s passage. Let us continue this streak even beyond the 2022 polls. Let us normalize having children at the heart of the law,” Dongeto ended. ###

(This press release was published on November 25, 2021.)

About Child Rights Network

Child Rights Network is the largest alliance of organizations and agencies pushing for children’s rights legislation in the Philippines. www.childrightsnetwork.ph

Media Contact: Richard Dy, crnphilippines@gmail.com