The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has sounded the alarm on the online sale of children and urged the Philippine government to take immediate and concrete action against persistent child trafficking.
In a statement on July 18, the CHR raised concern over reports of children, including infants as young as one month old, being sold through online platforms, which it described as a grave human rights violation requiring urgent intervention.
Amid these reports, the CHR urged authorities to strengthen the monitoring and regulation of these platforms, enhance investigative capabilities, and ensure the swift prosecution and conviction of perpetrators.
Moreover, the CHR also reminded the government of its obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, particularly Article 35, which requires states to take appropriate measures to prevent the abduction, sale, or trafficking of children.
The CHR emphasized that selling children, even by their own parents and regardless of intent, remains illegal and a clear violation of children’s rights.
Under Philippine laws, the sale of children constitutes child trafficking, which is punishable under Republic Act No. 7610 (Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act) and Republic Act No. 9208, as amended (Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act).
The CHR also encouraged individuals and couples seeking to adopt to follow lawful and ethical processes, citing Republic Act No. 11642, which streamlines adoption to make it more accessible while safeguarding the rights and welfare of children.
“No child should ever be bought, sold, or treated as a commodity,” the CHR said.
Furthermore, the CHR urged the public to remain vigilant and to report suspected cases of child trafficking to authorities, stressing that protecting children from exploitation is a shared societal responsibility.
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