CHR gives thumbs-up to Children’s Congress
AN official of the Human Rights Commission hailed the 1st Children’s Congress and Fair held in Dagupan City last week for being the first of its kind in Region 1.
Danilo Balino, information officer of CHR in Region 1, expressed hope that other local government units (LGUs) will follow Dagupan’s example.
Balino said LGUs, under the Local Government Code, are enjoined to organize Local Councils for the Protection of Children that will draw up and implement programs for child welfare and development.
The Congress, with the theme “Our Kids, Our Future”, was sponsored by the Dagupan City Sangguniang Panlungsod, Department of Education and the CSI Group of Companies.
At the same time, Balino noted that Filipino children are in fact the most protected in the entire world given numerous Philippine laws and those set by the United Nations.
Balino cited the Convention on Rights of Children (CRC), adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on November 20, 1989, which declares that children are human beings, not the property of their parents, are subjects of their own rights and no objects of charity. It implies that children have rights to food, shelter, clean water, primary health care and safe environment. Further, children’s rights for formal education, constructive plays, health care and caring environment must be supported for their physical, emotional and psychological development.
The CRC came into force on September 2, 1990 and the Philippines was the 3lst state to ratify the international declaration on the rights of children on July 26, 1990.
The CHR official also stressed that children should be involved in decision-making processes and be given inputs and access to information in different aspects of their life.
Among the Philippine laws that protect children’s rights include the Philippine’s Family Code of 1988; RA 7658 which prohibits employment of children below 15 years unless under the supervision of their parents and in non-hazardous occupation; the Family Courts Act of 1997 (RA 8369); RA 7653 which imposes death penalty on certain heinous crimes in instances of kidnapping or rape; Indigenous People’s Rights Act of 1997 (RA 8371); the Milk Code of 1986 (E.O. 51); the Rooming-in and Breast-feeding Act of 1992; Act for Salt Iodization Nationwide of 1995 (RA 8172); RA 7846 of 1994 which requires compulsory immunization against hepatitis B for infants and children below eight years old; Day Care Law of 1990 (RA 6972), and Public Secondary Education Act of 1998 (RA 6655).–LM
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