According to UNICEF and NGOs, the Philippines ranks 4th among 9 nations with most children in prostitution, with 60,000-100,000. The top five areas for prostitution and sex tourism are Metro Manila, Angeles City, and Puerto Galera in Mindoro, Davao and Cebu.
The absence of the exact number of children who are sexually exploited and in the sex trade is primarily due to the underground nature of prostitution so that child prostitutes are unregistered, highly mobile and they hide behind other services to gain public acceptance.
Some of the causes of prostitution mentioned in the study include:
1. Economic factors. (a) Out migration is considered an option to secure a better future which the local area can not give. (b) Globalization has created shifts in lifestyle among institutions and individuals as market competition, borderless economies and consumerism are accentuated. (c) The effect of society’s gender bias in the treatment of women as commodity by men who seek sexual pleasure. The growing demand for younger prostituted individuals has led to an increase in the number of children-victims.
2. Socio-cultural values and beliefs. (a) Concept of child and family -- the child is expected to support the family particularly during difficult economic and social situations. (b) The concept of ‘bahala na’ (come what may) denotes lack of concern and a systematic preparation for the future. Also, ‘pakikisama’ is a value that predisposes a child to engage in commercial sex due to peer influence.
3. Political dimensions of commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC). CSEC is reflective of the interplay of political and economic conditions which influence the behavior and movement of individuals and societies.
The effect/impact of prostitution on the children cuts across the different areas of their lives -- the physical, psychological, social and spiritual. Physical changes include working long, irregular hours; engaging in such vices as smoking and drinking; and use of condoms and other contraceptives. As a psychological effect, majority of the workers are overcome by shame, self-hate and guilt. Socially, child workers have to deal with physical separation from their loved ones.
The paper also presents a listing of legal frameworks formulated by different entities including some of the proposed laws to end child prostitution.
