Raising the Alarm is a 16-page policy brief that provides a quick glance on the research commissioned by Consuelo Foundation Understanding Legislative Decision-Makers: A Qualitative Study on Statutory Rape and Sexual Violence against Children. It aims to set in motion the urgency for policy action on amending the age of statutory rape in the Philippines.

The briefer presents facts on child development and relevant data on the prevalence of sexual violence. It further contextualizes this incidence with other challenges to the protection of the rights and well-being of Filipino children. The briefer also outlines the policy environment as well as the legal considerations in reforming the country’s child rights laws. Lastly, it enumerates five policy reforms necessary for a more comprehensive approach to protecting children and promoting their developmental rights.