The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) supports the initiatives of the House of Representatives to pursue legislation to address the problem of prostitution and to shift the criminalization from the victims and direct it to the persons who control and profit from the trade.
The Anti-Prostitution Bill will decriminalize persons exploited in prostitution, repealing the clauses under Articles 202 and 341 of the Revised Penal Code that punish ‘women who, for money, engage in sexual intercourse, or lascivious conduct.’
In a letter of support addressed to Congressman Neil Tupas, Chairman of the Committee on Justice, Social Welfare and Development Secretary Dinky Soliman said that the bill is one of the priority legislative agenda of the DSWD.
Secretary Soliman also recognized the importance of the bill which provides social protection to the victims, while initiating the prosecution of persons who control and profit from the trade by exploiting the victims’ economic deprivation. Further, the bill provides the victims with programs and services that would promote their economic conditions.
In the proposed Bill, a National Anti-Prostitution Council headed by the DSWD will be created composed of various government agencies, non-government organizations and persons exploited in prostitution.
“We all know, that most, if not all prostituted persons are forced to enter and engage into this activity because of compelling reasons such as poverty or they are victims of human trafficking. The government will continue to provide programs and services to uplift their economic well-being,” Secretary Soliman said.
The DSWD, however, emphasized that it does not support any move to legalize prostitution in the country.
At present, the DSWD has 26 residential care facilities nationwide providing rehabilitative and protective programs for children and women in especially difficult circumstances.
In 2012, the DSWD has served 19 children victims of prostitution and 50 women-victims of involuntary prostitution. ###
