The March for Children’s and Women’s Rights
by Fr Shay Cullen
Fr Shay Cullen and friends at Preda
Jessica Mary with thirty other recovering child survivors of sexual abuse and human trafficking marched down the streets of Olongapo City on International Women’s Day. They carried a banner that declared ‘Olongapo City Home of the Most Empowered Women in the World for Human Rights.’ The teenagers had the courage and commitment to take to the streets and declare that they were survivors with a cause. As Jessica said in Tagalog, ‘We join the march so other children will not suffer abuse like us.’
She and the other girls were happy and proud to be part of the march. They said they want to tell the world that it is a serious and heinous crime for adults to have sex with children. This hateful crime is spreading because of inaction by government and church officials and the apathy of society in general.
The Center for Women’s Resources, a Philippine research group stated recently that 77 percent of rape victims are children and that an astounding two children are raped every minute. Although under-reporting of the crimes is common due to fear, shame and intimidation the Philippine National Police said since June 2014 to June 2015 there was a 63.5 percent increase in rape cases reported. Thousands more go unreported.
Full Reflections here.