Philippines: UN expert to examine sale and exploitation of children issues

GENEVA (25 November 2022) – The UN Special Rapporteur on the sale and sexual exploitation of children, including child prostitution, child pornography and other child sexual abuse material, Mama Fatima Singhateh, will visit the Philippines from 28 November to 8 December 2022.

The Special Rapporteur will examine the protection of children against sexual exploitation, child marriage, child-trafficking for sexual exploitation, the exploitation of children living in the streets, and the sale of children through illegal adoptions, among other concerns.

She will assess the situation and the progress made in combating and preventing the sale and sexual exploitation of children in light of international human rights norms and standards.

Singhateh is visiting the Philippines at the invitation of the Government, and will hold discussions in Bohol, Cebu, Cotabato, Manila, Pampanga and Valenzuela with representatives of the executive, legislature and judiciary, local and municipal authorities, civil society organisations, child shelters, members of the international community, children as well as the local communities.

The Special Rapporteur will hold a press conference at the end of her visit, on Thursday 8 December 2022 at 1 pm local time at the Makati Diamond Residences, 118 Legazpi Street, Legazpi Village, Makati City, to share her preliminary observations. Access will be strictly limited to media and journalists.

She will present a comprehensive report of her country visit to the Human Rights Council in March 2024.

ENDS

Ms. Mama Fatima Singhateh (The Gambia) was appointed as the UN Special Rapporteur on sale and sexual exploitation of children by the UN Human Rights Council in March 2020. She is a trained lawyer with over 20 years of experience. Ms Singhateh has held a number of high-level positions in public service in the Gambia. She holds a master’s degree in International Business Law from the University of Hull and has undergone numerous trainings in child rights programming, arbitration and mediation, and legislative drafting. She has drafted laws, organized and conducted numerous training sessions, delivered presentations at both national and international fora and written articles and reports on issues relating to the promotion and protection of the rights of the child.

The Special Rapporteurs are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of the Council's independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. Special Procedures experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from any government or organisation and serve in their individual capacity.

UN Human Rights, country page – Philippines