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Proclamation No. 731: Declaring the Second Week of February Every Year as “National Awareness Week for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation“


WHEREAS, Article I, Section 2, of RA 7610 declares that “The State shall provide special protection to children from all forms of abuse, neglect, cruelty, exploitation, and discrimination and other conditions prejudicial to their development”;


WHEREAS, child sexual abuse is a social reality in the country and constitutes one of the profound violations of the rights of children;


WHEREAS, child sexual abuse is the most underreported form of abuse due to its highly sensitive nature;


WHEREAS, there is a need to raise the awareness of the public on the extent and magnitude of the problem, as well as the adverse consequences on the personality of the child, his/her family, and the society at large;


WHEREAS, the occurrence of the problem of child sexual abuse can be prevented with a deliberate and systematic information, education and communication activity;


WHEREAS, an informed citizenry will be motivated to report any case of child sexual abuse in order that programs and services can be made available and accessible to the victim and his/her family;


NOW, THEREFORE, I, FIDEL V. RAMOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby declare the second week of February of every year as “National Awareness Week for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation”.


For this purpose, I call on all sectors and organizations, especially the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Education, Culture and Sports, Department of Health, Philippine National Police, Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Labor and Employment, Philippine Information Agency, Department of Transportation and Communications, Council for the Welfare of Children, and other national agencies of government, as well as local government units, the Barangay Council for the Protection of Children to join hands with the private sector, non-government organizations, child and youth organizations, people’s organizations, media, women and business corporations to:


  1. Promote awareness on the problem of child sexual abuse and exploitation;
  2. Participate in the nationwide campaign to prevent child sexual abuse and exploitation;
  3. Instill in the general public respect for laws and ordinances related to the welfare of children, and surveillance and report of suspected cases to DSWD or law enforcement agencies;
  4. Integrate in school curriculum topics on child abuse and exploitation; and
  5. Provide orientation to all sectors on RA 7610 and other laws and on the problem of child abuse and exploitation.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the Republic of the Philippines to be affixed.


DONE in the City of Manila, this 5th day of February in the year of Our Lord, Nineteen Hundred and Ninety-Six.


(Sgd.) FIDEL V. RAMOS


By the President:

(Sgd.) RUBEN D. TORRES
Executive Secretary



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