Anne Curtis urges lawmakers to raise age of sexual consent: ‘Hear us, protect the children’

Anne Curtis (Image: screengrab from Instagram/@annecurtissmith)

Anne Curtis backed United Nations agency UNICEF in its call to raise the age of sexual consent in the Philippines from 12 to 16.

Under The Anti-Rape Law of 1997, rape is committed when the offended party is “under twelve (12) years of age.” This makes the Philippines one of the countries with the lowest ages of consent in the world, allowing adults to have intercourse with children as young as 12. The 1930 Revised Penal Code also cites the same age for statutory rape.

“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?” the actress asked through a series of Twitter posts yesterday, July 22.

I know this may be tough to read but please take the time. 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? https://t.co/grl7r7JSWJ

— Anne Curtis-Smith (@annecurtissmith) July 22, 2021

Curtis stressed the need to raise the age of consent in the country as “urgent,” calling members of Congress to pass a law addressing the matter.

“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,” she said.

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. https://t.co/grl7r7JSWJ

— Anne Curtis-Smith (@annecurtissmith) July 22, 2021

Curtis also stressed the need for male victims of child abuse to be likewise  protected, as current law’s definition of rape only involves “having carnal knowledge of a woman.”

“It doesn’t matter if the child is a boy or a girl. The trauma these children suffer from is exactly the same,” she reminded the public. “They should have equal protection rights.”

“With the opening of congress happening soon I believe this to be a grave matter, [especially] during this time where children are potentially more at risk. HEAR US and PROTECT THE CHILDREN,” she added.

The actress, who serves as a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF, also provided online materials to inform fans about the age of consent.

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,… https://t.co/grl7r7JSWJ

— Anne Curtis-Smith (@annecurtissmith) July 22, 2021

specially during this time where children are potentially more at risk.

HEAR US and PROTECT THE CHILDREN. @unicefphils
#ENDChildRape

To read further about this https://t.co/c0SJ309xFH https://t.co/ytdkoFcUU0#ENDChildRape https://t.co/grl7r7JSWJ

— Anne Curtis-Smith (@annecurtissmith) July 22, 2021

The House of Representatives approved the bill to raise the age of sexual consent to 16 in December last year. The Senate is yet to pass a counterpart measure, but a bill has been approved by Senate panels in October 2020.  /ra

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