Republic Act No.

7610

An Act Providing for Stronger Deterrence and

Special Protection Against Child Abuse,
Exploitation and Discrimination, and for Other
Purposes
 Overview
It seeks to provide special protection for children
from all forms of abuse, neglect, cruelty,
exploitation, and discrimination, and other
conditions that may hamper the childs
development.
This law also includes programs for prevention
and intervention in situations of child abuse,
exploitation, and discrimination.
 Article I
Sec. 2. Declaration of State Policy and Principles

.The State is responsible for the child when the

parent, guardian, teacher or person having care or
custody to the child is unable to protect the child
against abuse, exploitation, and discrimination.
More so, when such act is committed by the
parents, teachers or guardians, the state will also
intervene
The State is responsible for the children who
are endangered by these circumstances. Every
effort should be done to promote the well being
of the children, and the best interest of the child
should be the utmost priority whether it would
be undertaken by the public or private social
welfare institutions
 Sec. 3, Art. I - Definition of Terms
Children
- Refer to persons below 18 years of age or
those who are over 18 but are unable to fully
take care of themselves or protect themselves
from abuse, neglect, cruelty, exploitation and
discrimination because of a physical and mental
disability or condition.
Child Abuse
- Refers to the maltreatment, whether habitual or not,
of the child which includes any of the following:

(1) Psychological and physical abuse, neglect, cruelty,

sexual abuse and emotional maltreatment;

(2) Any act by deeds or words which debases,

degrades or demeans the intrinsic worth and dignity
of a child as a human being;
(3) Unreasonable deprivation of his basic needs
for survival, such as food and shelter; or

(4) Failure to immediately give medical

treatment to an injured child resulting in
serious impairment of his growth and
development or in his permanent incapacity
or death.
Circumstances that threatens or hampers the
development of the child include:

(1) Working under hazardous conditions;

(2) Living in a community where there is armed conflict
(3) Living in or fending for themselves in the streets of
urban or rural areas without the care of parents or
guardians
(4) Victims of man-made or natural calamity
(5) Being a member of an indigenous community and/or
living under condition of extreme poverty
(6) Circumstances analogous to those abovestated
Comprehensive Programs against child abuse
exploitation ad discrimination include:

(1) Child Prostitution

(2) Child Trafficking
(3) Obscene publications and indecent shows
 Article III Child Prostitution and Other
Sexual Abuse

Children who are exploited in prostitution or

other sexual abuse are those individuals who for
money, profit, or any other consideration or due
to coercion or influence of any adult or
syndicate or group, indulge in sexual intercourse
or lascivious conduct. This applies to both males
and females.
 Penalties
Reclusion Temporal or Reclusion Perpetua will be
imposed to those people who:

- Act as a procurer of a child prostitute

- Induce a person to be a client of a child prostitute
- Take advantage of influence or relationship to
procure a child as a prostitute
- Use violence to force a child to engage in prostitution
- Give monetary consideration or other benefits to
convince a child to engage in prostitution
 Article IV Child Trafficking
Any person who shall engage in trading and
dealing with children including, but not limited
to the act of buying and selling of a child for
money or of any other consideration, or barter.
 Penalties
Any person in Child Trafficking shall suffer the
penalty of Reclusion Temporal to Reclusion
Perpetua. However, if the child is under 12 years
of age, the penalty shall be imposed in its
maximum period.
 Article V Obscene Publications and
Indecent Shows

Any person who shall hire, employ, use or

persuade or coerce a child to perform in
obscene exhibitions and indecent shows
whether live or in video, pose, or model in
obscene publications or pornographic materials
or to sell or distribute the said materials.
 Penalties

Any person who shall be guilty of committing

such act shall suffer the penalty of prison mayor
in its medium period. However, if the child is
below 12 years old, the penalty should be
imposed on its maximum period. Guardians who
allow their child to perform obscene exhibitions
and indecent shows will also be given prison
mayor as punishment.
 Article VI Other Acts of Abuse
Sec. 10(e) Any person who shall use, coerce,
force or intimidate a street child or any child to:

1. Beg or use begging as a means of living;

2. Act as conduit or middlemen in drug
trafficking or pushing, or
3. Conduct any illegal activities
 Article VII Sanctions for Establishments or
Enterprises

.shall be immediately closed and their

authority or license to operate cancelled,
without prejudice to the owner or manager
thereof being prosecuted under this Act and/or
the Revised Penal Code, as amended, or special
laws. A sign with the words Off Limits shall be
conspicuously displayed outside the
establishments or enterprises
 Article VIII Working Children
Children below fifteen (15) years of age may be
employed given that:

(1) The child works directly under the sole

responsibility of his parents or legal guardian and
where only members of the employers family
are employed.
(2) The childs employment or participation in public
& entertainment or information through cinema,
theater, radio or television is essential.
 Article VIII Working Children
(1) The employer shall secure a work permit for
the child from the Department of Labor and
Employment
(2) The employer should ensure the morals,
safety, protection and health of the child. And
provide measures to prevent exploitation.
(3) Formulate and implement a continuous
program for training and skills acquisition for
the child
Children are also not allowed to appear in
advertisements that promote alcoholic
beverages, intoxicating drinks, tobacco and its by
products and violence.
 Article X Children in Situations of Armed
Conflict

Sec. 22 Children as Zones of Peace

(b) Children shall not be recruited to become members

of the Armed Forces of the Philippines of its civilian
units or other armed groups, nor be allowed to take
part in the fighting, or used as guides couriers, or spies.
Sec. 26 Rights of Children Arrested for Reasons
Related to Armed Conflict

(a) Separate detention from adults except where

families are accommodated as family units
(b) Immediate free legal assistance
(c) Immediate notice of such arrest to the parents or
guardians of the child
(d) Release of the child on recognizance within 24hrs
to the custody of the DSWD
 Article XI Remedial Procedure
Sec. 27 Who May File a Complaint.

(a) Offended Party

(b) Parents or Guardians
(c) Ascendant or collateral relative w/in the 3rd degree of
consanguinity
(d) Officer, social worker or representative of a licensed
child-caring institution
(e) Officer or social worker of DSWD
(f) Barangay Chairman
(g) At least 3 concerned responsible citizens where the
violation occurred.