These were facts cited by City Councilor Angela "Angging" Librado-Trinidad, based on separate studies conducted by non-profit organization End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography, and the Trafficking of Children or Ecpat.
The issue was raised by Trinidad on Tuesday as part of renewed calls against prostitution, in celebration of Children's Month and the International Day of No Prostitution, which are both celebrated this month.
"Prostitution, albeit the world's oldest profession, has already taken roots in the Filipino consciousness and is, therefore, not new by this seemingly age-old predicament has taken on modern proportions that we dare not ignore," Trinidad said.
Studies by women's group Gabriela show that there are about 500,000 prostituted women in the country, 25 percent of which are children.
Trinidad said the Tambayan Center for Abused Girls in Davao have listed more than 1,000 prostituted teen-age girls with customers paying as little as from 50 cents to $2.50. This rise in prostitution increases the spread of Aids, especially as contraceptive costs have gone up.
"Prostituted children remain prisoners of their damaged psyche despite rehabilitation efforts. The longer a child stays in the sex industry, the harder it is to overcome the trauma. Child rights activists says that there is no evidence that children in prostitution can ever rehabilitate," Trinidad said.
Thus, the councilor appeals to the government never to legalize it and for law enforcers to stop taking advantage of women during police raids often by allowing full-blown media coverage to the prejudice of the women, at the same time sparing their clientèle.
"To describe prostituted women as sex workers is to push them further into the pit of misery and helplessness. Let us help one another in this campaign and let us push for a comprehensive livelihood program that will provide prostituted women and children with opportunities they need to fare better in their lives with their dignity intact," Trinidad said.
On the other hand, a multi-sectoral forum on prostitution organized by Lawig Bubai, a group helping prostituted women regain their lives, will be held Friday at the University of Mindanao Matina Campus Audio Visual Room to discuss effective campaign strategies.
In Thursday's I-Speak forum at the City Hall, the group said following that will be a fashion walk at the Matina Town Square, 6 p.m. Friday.
