Key Philippine Laws Against Sexual Violence and Exploitation
This paper looks at three of the most important Philippine laws that have been enacted to fight sexual violence and human exploitation: Republic Acts 8353, 7877, and 9208. These acts are major steps toward protecting vulnerable populations and establishing a legal framework for addressing these serious issues. Republic Act No. 8353, or the Anti-Rape Law of 1997, has greatly expanded the definition of rape and classified it as a crime against persons. The law expanded rape, which covers sexual assault in addition to penetration into the vagina. It also introduced several aggravating circumstances that may come with stiffer sentences, such as those applied to offenses involving minors, persons with mental disabilities, and those committed by persons in authority. Republic Act No. 7877 is known as the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act of 1995, and it covers sexual harassment in both workplace and educational environments. As defined by the law, sexual harassment is any unwelcome sexua...