United Nations Special Rapporteur (UNSR) on the Sale and Sexual Exploitation of Children Mama Fatima Singhateh visited the House of Representatives on Monday afternoon, Nov. 28.
Singhateh's visit at the Batasamg Pambansa Complex coincided with the observance of National Children's Month.
The UNSR was present at the plenary during Monday's session where she was recognized along with Council for the Welfare of Children Undersecretary Angelo Tapales and Human Rights Officer Antara Singh by the Filipino congressmen.
House members who met the foreign visitor were Committee on Revision of Laws Chairperson Rep. Edward Vera Perez Maceda (4th district, Manila), Committee on Human Rights Chairperson Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr. (6th district, Manila), and Committee on Women and Gender Equality Chairperson Rep. Geraldine Roman (1st district, Bataan).
Singhateh was also scheduled to meet with House Speaker Martin Romualdez as part of her activities Monday.
In his manifestation on the floor, Maceda noted that Republic Act (RA) 11930, or the “Anti-Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) and Anti-Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials (CSAEM) Act”, was recently passed into law.
Meanwhile, the Manila lawmaker assured that the House would exercise its oversight functions to ensure the protection of Filipino children.
Singhateh is on a 14-day visit to gain first-hand information on the measures taken by the government to uphold the human rights of child victims of sale and sexual exploitation, assess the impact of these measures on the child victims, and provide recommendations to combat these crimes.