In the Philippines, a person is raped every hour. 33% of sexual abuse is incest rape. What's even more alarming is that authorities and the DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development) have said that their data is inaccurate, as a lot of cases go unreported. Other factors that contribute to this are lack of proper classification of abuse and coordination between government agencies regarding reported cases.
A Rappler report states that most of the victims of incest rape are girls between the ages of 15 and 17. However, some girls as young as 5 have been sexually abused by a relative. One of the girls interviewed in the feature, who was the eldest of three sisters, confided that she was raped by an uncle when she was only 6 years old. The abuse went on for three years, after which her uncle started abusing her younger sisters, too.
According to research, perpetrators of incest can be as young as 14 years old and as old as 65.
Incest is defined "as sexual abuse committed against a child by a person who is related to her/him within fourth degree of consanguinity or affinity and who exercises influence, authority or moral ascendancy over her/him." It's important to note that there is no legal definition of incest nor is there a specific law regarding it. So far, only the Family Code of 1998 has referred to it, but even there it only tackles incestuous marriage.
Naturally, this makes it difficult for victims of incest to find justice.
“I’m ashamed to be part of a system that sometimes is not able to pursue a particular case, to abide by the principle of speedy disposition of cases," lawyer Sedfrey Cabaluna lamented to Rappler.
Reporting abuse goes hand in hand with reliving the horrific experience, which is extremely difficult for victims.
"When you ask a child victim to narrate what happened to her, it’s like raping her all over again. Abusing her over again. There has to be sensitivities," Cabaluna continued.
This is why raising awareness on incest is important, as it encourages more victims to come forward, and to seek proper medical and legal help.
Though the figures, and its inaccuracy, may be disheartening, there are those who still strive to help victims heal and have a better life.
One such example is the NGO 'Cameleon,' founded by French lawyer Laurence Ligier, which offers a sanctuary for victims of child abuse, most of who were sexually abused by a relative.
Aside from giving them a safe and loving home, Cameleon hopes to raise awareness about incest and even, to educate parents that their child has a right to their own body and it is their responsibility to raise them with dignity and respect. Since its inception in 1997, the NGO has helped over 7,000 young people. One of their beneficiaries was Shalaine Gamala, who shared with PhilStar how Cameleon helped her overcome her past trauma.
"Children are the hope of our future, but how can it be if they’re abused?"
"When I entered Cameleon, I was vulnerable," Gamala confided in an interview, adding that Cameleon's structured therapy and training greatly helped her, "My mindset changed. It opened my perspective that I can do something and not just stay a victim."
She also went on to shared advice to avoid becoming a victim of abuse.
- Value and respect to yourself first.
- Don’t be scared to speak up. If you are afraid, you can’t help anyone. By being brave enough to speak out, you can help others. Speaking out doesn't mean you're "proud" of what happened.
- Accept that you're a victim, but move forward. It is one of the first steps if you want to help others.
- Be open to what other people have to say. Achieving your dreams becomes easier when you have great support and guidance.
- Be open to change and be a champion for change.
“We should stop the cycle!" Gamala stressed. "Children are the hope of our future, but how can it be if they’re abused? We should be sensitive to their needs and not just send them to school."
READ: CHR and PNP rescue 17-year-old girl who was raped for 10 years by her own father
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