By ALMA SINUMLAG
www.nordis.net

BAGUIO CITY — An urgent need for a massive information drive against child pornography was emphasized during the workshop – conference on the Anti Child Pornography Act of 2009.

Attended by delegates from government agencies, the academe, parents and civil society organizationsthe coference was held at Sta. Catalina Retreat House, Marcos Highway on July 23.
Government agencies, Schools, Parents and Civil Society Organizations workshops had resulted to the same recommendation of having massive Information Campaign regarding the issue of child pornography. This is due to the fact that no participant in the workshop encountered any case of child pornography. It boiled down to the point that this issue is not yet popular.

Christina Torafing from the Cordillera Labor Center (CLC) said “siguro hindi aware ang mga tao kaya walang documented case” (Perhaps people are not aware that is why there is no documented case).
A representative of the Baguio Center for Young Adults (BCYA) who are advocating for the rights of a child said that the meaning of child pornography itself is not popular. Perhaps there are cases undocumented because the parties involved are not aware that a certain case can fall under Anti Child Pornography Act.

In the Section 3 of Rule II of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act No. 9775 or the Anti – Child Pornography Act of 2009, “Child Pornography refers to any representation, whether visual, audio, or written combination thereof, by electronic, mechanical, digital, optical, magnetic, or any other means, of a child engaged or involved in real or simulated explicit sexual activities.”

Still in Section 3, “Explicit Sexual Activities includes actual or simulated. 1. sexual intercourse or lascivious act including, but not limited to, contact involving genital to genital, anal to genital, or oral to anal, whether between persons of the same or opposite sex; 2. bestiality; 3. maturbation; 4. sadistic or masochistic abuse; 5. lasciviousness exibition of the genitals, buttocks, breasts, pubic area, and/or anus; or 6. use of any object or instrument for lascivious acts.”

Aside from raising awareness, a recommendation on the strict implementation of city ordinaces as the prohibition of minors from entering internet cafes so as not to expose them to pornographic materials that are circulating in the web was also stressed. Strict monitoring of internet cafes was also recommended.

A representative from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said the institutionalization of this issue needs to be strenghtened so that the education campaign regarding this will be included in the school curriculum.

“Discipline always starts at home that is why parents should keep a close guidance of their children in browsing the web, and watching television” said Christina Torafing.

This activity was initiated by the Katinnulong Dagiti Umili iti Amianan, Inc. (KADUAMI, Inc) in partnership with Anti Child Pornography Alliance (ACPA) and AKAP BATA. # nordis.net