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Higit sa pagiging UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador ng actress na si Anne Curtis-Smith, maaaring ang pagiging isang babae at isang ina na ngayon sa kanyang one year old daughter na si Dahlia ang dahilan kung bakit mararamdaman sa sunod-sunod na Twitter posts ni Anne ang disgusto at pagkabahala sa kasalukuyang nilalalaman ng Anti-Rape Law of 1997 o RA 8353.

Ilang ulit ni-repost ni Anne ang statement na inilabas ng UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund) tungkol sa panawagan nito sa Kongreso ng Pilipinas na agarang i-amend ang RA 8353. Nila-lobby ng UNICEF na mas itaas pa ang edad “in determining the commission of statutory rape from below 12 to below 16.”

Sa kasalukuyan, “below 12 years old” nga ang naka-saad na edad sa batas. Ibig sabihin: “Any sexual intercourse with a minor who has not reached the age of 12 is automatically regarded as rape, even if the minor consented or appeared to have voluntarily engaged in the sexual act.”

Ani pa ng UNICEF sa kanilang official site, “The UN has long voiced concerns about the alarmingly low age of sexual consent in the Philippines. The age of consent is the lowest in Asia and one of the lowest in the world, leaving children in the Philippines vulnerable to abuse and exploitation.”

Para kay Anne, hindi katanggap-tanggap na “below 12 years old” ang nasa batas. 

“I know this may be tough to read but please take the time,” panimula niya sa kanyang post. “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. You aren’t even legally allowed to get married, vote, get a license yet.. but this is allowed?

“This is URGENT. 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. Data from DSWD has shown that most victims of rape and child incest are between the age of 14 to below 18.

“Way above the minimum age set by the RA 8353,” patuloy niya. 

Aniya pa, maging ang mga kabataang lalaki ay vulnerable na ngayon kaya’t dapat umanong may kapantay na parusa ang mga nang-aabuso ng mga kabataang lalaki.

“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…” pagdidiin ni Anne.

“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. With the opening of congress happening soon I believe this to be a grave matter… specially during this time where children are potentially more at risk.”

Tinapos niya ang kanyang series of tweets with: “HEAR US and PROTECT THE CHILDREN.” Itinag niya Unicef Philippines at ginamit ang hashtag na “End Child Rape.”

Ang third regular session ng 18^th Congress ay magbubukas sa Lunes, July 26 hanggang June 2022.

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