Rape Anti-Rape Law: Expanding THE Definition of Rape, and Reclassifying Rape as A Crime against Persons (R.A. 8353) The Anti-Rape Law of 1997 amended Title Eight of the Act No. 3815, otherwise known as the Revised Penal Code. In the original law, the crime of rape was classified as a Crime Against Chastity. In redefining it as a Crime Against Persons, it recognizes that rape violates a person's wellbeing and not just one’s purity or virginity. Also, by reclassifying it as such, it no longer considers rape as a private crime. This means that any person, who has knowledge of the crime, may file a case on the victim’s behalf and prosecution continues even if the victim discontinues the case. The law may be invoked under either of the following conditions: ↗ If the victim is a woman or a girl, and the perpetrator (who is a man or a boy) has carnal knowledge of her through any of the following circumstances: ▶ Through force, threat, or intimidation ▶ When the offended party is deprived of reason or otherwise unconscious; ▶ By means of fraudulent machination or grave abuse of authority; and ▶ When the offended party is under twelve (12) years of age or is demented, even though none of the circumstances mentioned above are/were present. ↗ If the victim is a woman, man, or child1, and the perpetrator commits an act of sexual assault2 under any of the above the circumstances. ¹ Under the Child Abuse Law (R.A. 7610), a child is a person below 18 years of age, or those over—but unable to take care of themselves because of physical or mental disability or condition. ² Sexual assault is committed by inserting a penis into another person's mouth or anal orifice, or any instrument or object, into the genital or anal orifice of another person. 7