RA 7610

• RA 7610 is the “Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act.”
• RA 7610 provides for stronger deterrence and special protection against child abuse, exploitation and discrimination, and for other purposes
• It is declared to be the policy of the State to provide special protection to children from all forms of abuse, neglect, cruelty exploitation and discrimination and other conditions prejudicial to their development
• Declaration of State Policy and Principles under RA 7610

  Provide special protection to children from abuse, neglect, cruelty, exploitation, and discrimination; provide sanctions for their commission; carry out a program for prevention, deterrence, and crisis intervention in situations of child abuse, exploitation, and discrimination
• Child under RA 7610

  A person below eighteen (18) years of age and those over but are unable to fully take care of themselves or protect themselves from abuse, neglect, cruelty, exploitation, or discrimination because of a physical or mental disability or condition
• Child abuse under RA 7610

  Refers to the maltreatment, whether habitual or not, of the child which includes psychological and physical abuse, neglect, cruelty, sexual abuse, emotional maltreatment; any act by deeds or words which debases, degrades, or demeans the intrinsic worth and dignity of a child as a human being; unreasonable deprivation of basic needs for survival; failure to immediately give medical treatment to an injured child resulting in serious impairment of growth and development or in permanent incapacity or death
• Child cruelty under RA 7610

  Any word or action which debases, degrades, or demeans the dignity of a child as a human being
• Child neglect under RA 7610

  Failure to provide, for reasons other than poverty, adequate food, clothing, shelter, basic education, or medical care to seriously endanger the physical, mental, social, and emotional growth and development of the child
• Children below fifteen (15) years of age may be employed except when certain conditions are met
• Children as Zones of Peace is a strategy that aims to provide humanitarian aid during conflict by prioritizing the rights of children
• Child prostitution under RA 7610


  Children, whether male or female, who for money, profit, or any other consideration or due to coercion or influence of any adult, syndicate, or group, indulge in sexual intercourse or lascivious conduct, are deemed to be children exploited in prostitution and other sexual abuse
• All establishments and enterprises promoting or conducting activities like child prostitution, child trafficking, obscene publications, indecent shows, and other acts of abuse shall be immediately closed and their authority or license to operate cancelled
• The penalty of reclusion temporal in its medium period to reclusion perpetua shall be imposed upon those who engage in or promote, facilitate, or induce child prostitution, and those who commit the act of sexual intercourse or lascivious conduct with a child exploited in prostitution
• Sanctions of Establishments which Promote, or Conduct Activities


  • Child Prostitution
  • Child Trafficking
  • Obscene Publications
  • Indecent Shows
  • Other Acts of Abuse
• The penalty of reclusion temporal in its medium period to reclusion perpetua shall be imposed upon:
• Individuals subject to penalty

  • Those who engage in or promote, facilitate or induce child prostitution
  • Those who commit the act of sexual intercourse of lascivious conduct with a child exploited in prostitution or subject to other sexual abuse
  • Those who derive profit or advantage therefrom, whether as manager or owner of the establishment where the prostitution takes place, or of the sauna, disco, bar, resort, place of entertainment or establishment serving as a cover or which engages in prostitution in addition to the activity for which the license has been issued to said establishment
• Child trafficking penalty:
• Any person who shall engage in trading and dealing with children including, but not limited to, the act of buying and selling of a child for money, or for any other consideration, or barter, shall suffer the penalty of reclusion temporal to reclusion perpetua. The penalty shall be imposed in its maximum period when the victim is under twelve (12) years of age
• Child exploitation definition:
• Means the intentional touching, either directly or through clothing, of the genitalia, anus, groin, breast, inner thigh or any acts lewdness. Lascivious conduct
• Penalty for committing any other act of child abuse, cruelty, exploitation or child trafficking or to be responsible for other conditions prejudicial to the child’s development:
• Shall suffer the penalty of prison mayor in its minimum period
• Who may file a complaint

  • Offended party
  • Parents or guardians
  • Ascendant or collateral relative within the third degree of consanguinity
  • Officer, social worker or representative of a licensed child-caring institution
  • Officer or social worker of the Department of Social Welfare and Development
  • Barangay chairman
  • At least three (3) concerned responsible citizens where the violation occurred
• Duty to report

  • Teachers and administrators in public schools
  • Probation Officers
  • Government lawyers
  • Barangay officials
  • Correction officers and other Government officials and employees whose work involves dealing with children
• Protective custody of the child:
• The offended party shall be immediately placed under the protective custody of the Department of Social Welfare and Development pursuant to Executive Order No. 56, series of 1986