ZERO TOLERANCE FOR SEXUAL EXPLOITATION

Zero Tolerance for Sexual Exploitation

by Fr. Shay Cullen

27 June 2013

The young women, allegedly victims of sexual abuse by government officials stationed at Philippine embassies in the Middle East, were being interviewed by Philippine media. They had their heads and faces completely covered with black cloth and wore dark glasses to hide from the public gaze and to avoid the stigma of being branded a person of ill repute. It is a grave injustice that the victims of sex crimes and not their abusers are branded with a stigma of wrongdoing.

Other victimized abused women have come forward to make statements about how they too were sexually abused and forced into prostitution to get a ticket from the embassy officials to come home to the Philippines.

Not only were they abused physically, verbally, and sexually by their employers, but also by those assigned, paid and sworn to assist and help them, according to the credible testimonies of the women. While the accused officials can claim to be innocent until proven guilty, it cannot be said either the victims are fabricating, inventing and lying. The suspects have a right to be made aware of the allegations made against them and to make a reply before any judgement. When done, the investigators can decide if there is sufficient evidence against them to bring charges.

However, the evidence so far is compelling to establish that such events did happen but to prove it in a Philippine court of law or before the Ombudsman is very difficult. Witnesses are already being intimidated as seen by the wearing of black face coverings by the witnesses. It’s a very difficult decision for a sexually abused woman or child to go public.

Some years ago, a high government official commenting on similar reports of sexual abuse of Philippine women abroad advised the women to “lie back and enjoy it”. However, if he’s to be gang raped himself, I doubt he would tell himself the same thing. It is the casual cavalier attitude that is most disturbing.

What a shame this is for the Filipino people. But should we be surprised? You would expect perhaps there would be public outcry about such exploitation and corruption but there is none, at least not