The Special Protection of Children

Against Child Abuse, Exploitation and

Neglect

Discrimination Act or Republic Act

Child neglect is characterized by

7610 (Art.1 Sec. 3) defines child

failure to provide for the child's basic

abuse

needs.

as

maltreatment,

whether

habitual or not.

Neglect

can

be

physical,

educational or emotional.

A person who is below 18

years old or those over but

are unable to fully take care of

Physical Neglect

themselves

Includes

from

abuse,

refusal

of

or

delay

in

neglect, cruelty, exploitation

seeking health care, abandonment,

or discrimination because of

inadequate

physical or mental disability

expulsion from home or refusing to

or condition.

allow a runaway to return home.

By

person

responsible

who

for

the

is

supervision

and

Educational Neglect

child's

Failure to enroll a child of mandatory

welfare. Under circumstances

school age and inattention to a

which

special educational need.

gravely

threaten

or

endanger

the

survival

and

normal

development

of

children.

Emotional Neglect
Includes such action as chronic or
extreme spouse abuse in the child's

Operational Definition

presence, permission of drug abuse

or alcohol use by the child and

Physical Abuse

refusal or failure to provide needed

Is characterized by physical injury

psychological care.

(e.g. bruises and fractures) resulting

from

punching,

beating,

kicking,

Sexual Abuse

biting, or otherwise harming a child.

Includes wide range of behavior;

The injury may have resulted from

fondling

over

intercourse,

rape,

punishment that is inappropriate to

exhibitionism

and

the child's age or condition. The

exploitation through prostitution or

injury may be the results from over

the

discipline

materials.

discipline

or

or

physical

physical

punishment

of

production

child's

of

genitals,
sodomy,

commercial
pornographic

that is inappropriate to the child's

age or condition.

Sexual Exploitation
Children whether male or female,

An injury

physical

who for money, profit or any other

punishment that requires medical

consideration or due to the coercion

treatment is considered outside the

or influence of any adult, syndicate

realm

or

of

measures.

resulting

normal

from

disciplinary

group,

indulge

in

sexual

intercourse or lascivious conduct, are

deemed to be children exploited in

discovered.

prostitution and other sexual abuse.

Emotional abuse
Includes acts or omissions by the
parents or other persons responsible
for the child's care and that have
caused

or

could

cause

serious

behavioral, cognitive, emotional or

mental

disorder.

It

is

the

most

difficult form of child maltreatment.

Child trafficking
The act of trading or dealing with
children, including but not limited to,
the buying and selling children for
money,

or

for

any

other

consideration, or barter.
Child Labor

Persons required by law to report child

abuse cases
The following must report child abuse case:
1. The head of a public or private hospital,
medical clinic or similar institution, as
well as the physician and nurse who
attended to the needs of the abused
child.
2. Teachers and administrators of public
schools
3. Parole and probation officers
4. Government lawyers
5. Law enforcement officers
6. Barangay officials
7. Correction officers such as jail guards
8. Other government officials and
employees whose work involves
dealing with children

The employment of children below

15 years of age who force, suffer to
work

for

money

or

any

other

consideration.
The

condition

of

employment

endangers the life, safety, health and

normal development of the child.
Abandoned
The failure to provide for the care
and support of a child for at least six

Who can file a complaint for child abuse?

1. The child victim
2. The parent or legal guardian of the
victim
3. The grandparent, or relative of the
child victim up to a first cousin
4. The Barangay Chairman
5. One of a group of 3 or more persons
who have personal knowledge of the
abuse.

(6) continuous months for no valid

reason shall be presumed as an

PUNISHABLE ACTS

intent to abandon the child unless

said failure is due to reasons beyond

CHILD PROSTITUTION AND

the control of the parent or is due to

OTHER SEXUAL ABUSE

financial reasons.

reclusion

temporal

in

its

medium period to reclusion

The

failure

enforcement

to

report

agency

to
or

law

to

the

perpetua

if victim is under twelve (12)

Department of Social Welfare and

years

of

age:

Development (DSWD) that the child

temporal in its medium period

is missing within seventy-two (72)

hours

after

his

disappearance

is

ATTEMPT TO COMMIT

reclusion

CHILD PROSTITUTION

A penalty lower by two (2)

degrees than that prescribed
for the consummated felony
under Section 5

CHILD TRAFFICKING

reclusion

temporal

to

reclusion

perpetua.

The

penalty shall be imposed in its

maximum period when the
victim

under

twelve

(12)

years of age.
ATTEMPT TO COMMIT
CHILD TRAFFICKING

penalty

lower

two

(2)

degrees than that prescribed

for the consummated felony
under

Section

shall

be

imposed upon the principals

of the attempt
OBSCENE PUBLICATIONS
AND INDECENT SHOWS

prision mayor in its medium

period.

If

the

child

performer,

used

as

subject

seller/distributor

a
or

is

below

twelve (12) years of age, the

penalty shall be imposed in its
maximum period.

Any ascendant, guardian, or

person

entrusted

in

any

capacity with the care of a

child who shall cause and/or
allow

such

child

to

be

employed or to participate:
prision mayor in its medium
period