A call to end violence against children

Article 3 of Presidential Decree 603 or the Child and Youth Welfare Code, signed in December 1874 by then-President Ferdinand Marcos, defines the rights of children having no distinction as to the legitimacy or illegitimacy, sex, social status, religion, political antecedents and other factors.

It says that every child is endowed with the dignity and worth of a human being from the moment of his conception, and therefore, has the right to be born well.

Every child has the right to a whole-some family that will provide him with love, care and understanding, guidance and counseling, and moral and material security. And thus, dependent or abandoned child shall be provided with the nearest substitute for a home.

Every child has the right to a wll-rounded development of this personality that he may become a happy, useful and active member of society.

The gifted child shall be given opportunity and encouragement to develop his special talents while the emotionally disturbed or socially maladjusted child as well as the physically and mentally handicapped child shall be treated to entitled to treatment and competent care.

Every child has the right to a balanced diet, adequate clothing, sufficient shelter, proper medical attention, education and all the basic physical requirements of a healthy and vigorous life.

Every child has the right to protection against exploitation, improper influences, hazards, and other conditions, or circumstances prejudicial to his physical, mental, emotional, social and moral development.

Every child has the right to an efficient and honest government that will deepen his faith in democracy and inspire him with the morality of the constituted authorities both in their public and private lives.

Every child has the right to grow up as a free individual, in an atmosphere of peace, understanding, tolerance and universal brotherhood, and with the determination to contribute his share in the building of a better world.

A violation of anyone of the above is therefore an outright violation on the rights of the child. Simple adherence on the rights of the child, on the other hand. will make our world a perfect place for our children.

But human frailties, ignorance of the law, and perhaps negligence on the part of some of us, adults, make our country no better than hell for some of our dear little ones.

It is on this respect that the government intervenes: Every child has the right to the care, assistance, and protection of the State, particularly when his parents or guardians fal or are unable to provide him with his fundamental needs for growth, development and improvement.

The Council for the Welfare of Children

The government has established the Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) as the agency tasked to look into children’s protection, welfare and development in the Philippines. Its ultimate mission is to ensure protection of children against all forms of abuse and exploitation, to defend children’s rights, promote their welfare and development, and secure that they are given priority attention at all levels both by government and civil society.

Presidential Proclamation 267, series of 1993 declared the month of October of every year as National Children’s Month. CWC as the focal coordinating agency for children spearheads the nationwide 17th celebration with the theme Bright Child: Proteksyon ng Bata, Pananagutan ng Bansa.

Bright child campaign

The Bright Child Campaign is a nationwide call to end violence against children. This is an alarming concern in the country. Documentation releaved that of the total 6,701 child abuse cases served by the DSWD, 540 were abandoned; 1,002 were neglected; 2,300 were sexually abuse; 179 were sexually-exploited; 647 were physically abused/maltreated; 136 were victims of child labor; 16 were victims of illegal recruitment; 168 were victims of child trafficking and 276 were victims of armed conflict (Source: Subaybay Bata Marco Monitoring System).

The CWC belives that the Bright Child as a promotional advocacy will help in developing responsible people toward a productive nation. CWC’s National Bright Child Jr. is Bernard Joecel Forbes, TV/movie personality and product endorser. Popularly known as “Tolits,” Forbes has been an active child rights advocate along with some of the Bright Child Jr. Ambassadors at the regional level – Jo Anthony Navales (National Capital Region); Nicole Trinidad (Southern Mindanao); and Karlo Tottoc (Cagayan Valley). The grouo of Bright Child Jr. Ambassadors have been active partners in encouraging children of the same age to participate and take action in making the country a bliss to live in.

In most of his appearance as Bright Child Advocate Tolits sas:
“let’s all help one another to give proper service for Bright Child. it should be I alone. It should be all of us who grow up smart, happy, active, wellfed and loved by parents and neighbors. We should foster a generation who are courteous enough to say po and opo because they grew up with the proper values, warmth, care and love during childhood. Proper nutrition starts with breastfeeding at maternal car as well as education. Join us with the Bright Child Campaign.”

Award for child-friendly municipalities and cities

The Council for the Welfare of Children announces the start of the 2009 Presidential Award for Child Friendly Municipalities and Cities. The Award is pursuant to Executive Order No. 184, series of 1999 (December 13, 1999) entitled “Establishing the Presidential Award for the Child-Friendly Municipalities and Cities” considered as a self-assessment mechanism of the level of child-friendliness of a particular city and municipality and at the same time gives recognition to these LGUs that put in place a “child-friendly” environment.

The award is considered as a self-assessment mechanism of the level of child friendlinees of a particular city and municipality and at the same time gives recognition to the local government units that put in place a child-friendly environment.

The Presidential Award is given to 4th-6th Class Municipality, 1st-3rd Class Municipality, Component City, Independent Chartered City and Highly Urbanized City, using a set of criteria developed by the Council for the Welfare of Children.

For details, visit CWC at No. 10, Apo Street, Santa Mesa Heights, Quezon City, call 781-1039 or e-mail cwc@cwc.gov.ph.