UN expert on sale and exploitation of children holds press briefing on findings of Philippines visit

MANILA, 8 December 2022--The UN Special Rapporteur (SR) on the sale and sexual exploitation of children, Mama Fatima Singhateh, held a press briefing today to share her preliminary observations following her visit to the Philippines from 28 November to 8 December 2022.



She assessed the situation and the progress made in combating and preventing the sale and sexual exploitation of children in light of international human rights norms and standards.



SR Singhateh is in the Philippines at the invitation of the Government, and has held discussions in Bohol, Cebu, Cotabato, Manila, Pampanga and Valenzuela with representatives of the executive, legislature and judiciary, local and municipal authorities, civil society organisations, child shelters, members of the international community, children as well as the local communities.



ENDS

Ms. Mama Fatima Singhateh (The Gambia) was appointed as the UN Special Rapporteur on sale and sexual exploitation of children by the UN Human Rights Council in March 2020. She is a trained lawyer with over 20 years of experience. Ms Singhateh has held a number of high-level positions in public service in the Gambia. She holds a master’s degree in International Business Law from the University of Hull and has undergone numerous trainings in child rights programming, arbitration and mediation, and legislative drafting. She has drafted laws, organized and conducted numerous training sessions, delivered presentations at both national and international fora and written articles and reports on issues relating to the promotion and protection of the rights of the child.

The Special Rapporteurs are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of the Council's independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. Special Procedures experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from any government or organisation and serve in their individual capacity.

UN Human Rights, country page – Philippines

For more information and media requests, please contact: 

Ms. Teresa Debuque, +63 9150612351 / debuque@un.org

Ms. Antara Singh (+41 76 281 9863 / antara.singh@un.org). 

Ms. Nouf Al Anezi (+41 22 917 2880 / nouf.alanezi@un.org) 

or write to hrc-sr-saleofchildren@un.org.