CEDAW/C/PHL/7-8
On measures to suppress the exploitation of prostitution of women
91. Advocacy for the amendment of Article 202 of the RPC through the passage of
a bill decriminalizing prostitution has started since the 14th Congress. Aside from
the stand-alone bill, decriminalizing prostitution has also been proposed to be
included in the revision of the RPC under its Book II. Ahead of the national law,
some local government units have taken a more active stance in combating
prostitution and its perpetrators by passing their own anti -prostitution ordinances, as
some cities have done like Quezon, Naga, Davao and Olongapo.
Rehabilitation, social integration and economic empowerment programs for v ictims
of prostitution
92. The State Party, through the DSWD, provides protective services to victims of
abuse and exploitation including prostitution to enable their re habilitation, social
integration and economic empowerment, categorized into centre -based and
community-based. Centre-based services are programs and services rendered in
facilities. Primary centres are the Haven, a substitute home care for women victims
of gender-based violence ages 18-59 years old; Marillac Hills, a child caring facility
for female children in conflict with the law, and for abused and exploited girls
below 18 years old; and, Home/Centre for Girls, a child-caring facility. Programs
and services being provided by these facilities include treatment and rehabilitation,
group life and home care, health and nutrition, productivity and skills training.
93. Community-based services include treatment and recovery and after care
programs and services that involve the active participation of the community where
they live. Services include a quick response team and provision of skills and capital
assistance; and after care services facilitate reintegration of survivors and prevention
of relapse of women and their children discharged from residential facilities.
94. The State Party, through the DSWD, supports 42 temporary shelters, temporary
residency status, relief from deportation, access to legal, medical, and psychological
services to victims of trafficking and violence. It has served a total of 118 victims of
prostitution through its centre-based and community-based services in 2013.
On addressing the root causes of trafficking and migration through the support
to entrepreneurship, expanding job opportunities and provision of social safety
nets for the poor
95. The State Party is committed to the creation of more job opportunities within
the country through inclusive economic development. One of the commitments of
the incumbent President of the State Party is to be able to create more jobs at home,
“so that working abroad will be a choice, rather than a necessity; and when its
citizens do choose to become Overseas Filipino Workers, their welfare and
protection will be the government’s priority.”
96. Reducing poverty and increasing employment as the means to inclusive
economic growth are the objectives of the five-year Philippine Development Plan
(PDP) 2011-2016, the country’s blueprint for economic development. These
objectives of the PDP are targeted through three broad strategies of high and
sustained economic growth, equal access to development opportunities and effective
and responsive social safety nets. PDP defines inclusive growth as “sustained
growth that massively creates jobs, draws the vast majority into the economic and
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