More than fifty (50) bikers joined an advocacy ride launched in Quezon City with the objective of calling for an end to violence against children. Dubbed “Padyak to #EndVAC”, the activity was held a week before President Duterte deliver his last State of the Nation Address (SONA). It aimed at calling on the legislators and government officials to uphold and promote the rights and welfare of Filipino children by prioritizing the passage during the Third Regular Session of the 18th Congress of pending legislations on various child protection issues including the Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC), Increasing the Age of Statutory Rape and the Prohibition of Child Marriage.
the activity was spearheaded by the Child Rights Network (CRN) Philippines, the largest alliance of organizations and agencies pushing for children’s rights in national legislation and was graced by the active participation of its member organizations and other cause-oriented groups.
Some of the organizations present during the activity include Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines, UNICEF Philippines, Childfund Philippines, Save the Children Philippines, PETA ARTS Zone Project, Terre des Hommes Germany, Salinlahi Alliance for Children’s Concerns, Salinlahi Youth Philippines, Children’s Rehabilitation Center Inc., KIYO Philippines, NORFIL Foundation Inc., Parents Alternative on Early Childhood Care and Development Inc. (PAECCDI), Unang Hakbang Foundation, Ateneo Human Rights Center, World Vision, IBON Foundation, Firefly Brigade – Philippines, GABRIELA, Gabriela Women’s Party and Asia Pacific Research Network.
Riding their bikes decorated with colorful flags and placards that bearing their calls and demands, the group assembled at the Boy Scout Circle before proceeding to the Commission on Human Rights where a short program was held.
In a statement, the CRN Philippines said that since the first months of the implementation of lockdown last year, the cases of violence against children have risen. Citing the data of Save the Children Philippines in their 2020 report, at least 1 in 6 children reported violence at home during the pandemic. It was also noted that “the more household income that has been lost owing to COVID-19, the higher the reporting of violence in the home.” It added that an additional 13 million girls under
18 would be married globally resulting from the disruptions brought by the pandemic from 2020-2030, according to UNFPA. Currently, Philippines ranks 10th globally on the absolute number of child marriages. According to UNICEF, Philippines has also remained a global hotspot for online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC)
since 2018. OSAEC is another issue exacerbated by the health crisis with DOJ-IACAT reporting a 260% increase in the first three months of lockdown.
“As the country continues to rank high in all the worst possible areas, it is alarming how children’s rights are not as prioritized as they should be and many laws aiming to protect children against violence remain pending in Congress. We need to recognize that although there is an ongoing health crisis, there are silent cries that also need to be heard and addressed,” said CRN Coordinator Toni Flores.
On the the hand, Salinlahi Secretary General and CRN Luzon Coordinator Eule Rico Bonganay, who gave an opening remarks during the program, highlighted that while people’s mobility has been restricted by the pandemic, violence against children continued to proliferate and even increased as children are abused and exploited, unfortunately, even in their very own homes. Thus, he challenged the participants to intensify the campaigns in pushing for legislation that will provide stronger protection to Filipino children.
Aside from the three important issues, the members of the CRN Philippines hope that the government will recognize the importance and urgency of the proposed bills. Aside from the three key issues, the CRN will continue to advocate for Congress to pass the laws on the following:
1. Inclusive Education for Learners with Disabilities
2. Positive Discipline
3. Civil Registration and Vital Statistics
4. Domestic Administrative Adoption and Foundling Welfare Act
5. Human Trafficking Prevention Education Program
6. Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention
7. Tobacco-Free Generation
8. Programs for Children Affected by the War on Drugs
9. Magna Carta of Children (National)
10. Children’s Rights to Environment and Climate
11. Creation of the Philippine Commission for Children
(Binigkas ni Salinlahi Secretary General Eule Rico Bonganay; July 18, 2021; Commission on Human Rights)
Magandang umaga sa ating lahat!
Natutuwa ako na pasinayaan ang ating aktibidad na pinangunahan ng Child Rights Network (CRN) ngayong umaga na pinamagatang Padyak to EndVAC – isang advocacy bike ride na naglalayong manawagan ng proteksyon para sa mga batang biktima ng iba’t ibang porma ng pang-aabuso, karahasan at pagsasamantala na sa gitna ng pandemya ay lubhang nakaaalarma ang pagtaas.
Napagpasyahan natin na ilunsad ang advocacy bike ride na ito dahil sa panahon ng pandemya, bisikleta ang inasaahan ng marami sa atin bilang pangunahing transportasyon lalo na sa pinahigpit na restriksyon sa mobility ng mamamayan. Mula sa pagpunta sa trabaho, pagbisita sa mga kamag-anak na nasa mga hospital, pagkuha ng ayuda hanggang sa pag-eehersisyo upang mapanatili ang katawan na malusog at malakas ang resistensya laban sa anumang uri ng sakit tulad ng COVID-19 – napakahalaga ng bisikleta sa ngayon.
Bago pa man ang pademya, marami na sa atin ang kinahihiligan ang pagbibisikleta dahil dinadala tayo nito sa iba’ibang lugar. Nagbibigay din ito ng pakiramdam ng kalayaan o sense of freedom at dahil tayo ang may hawak ng manibela, nasa sa atin ang desisyon kung saan tayo tutungo.
Sa isang banda, bilang mga child rights advocate nagkakaisa tayo sa iisang sinumpaang misyon – ito ay ang itaguyod ang karapatan ng mga bata at labanan ang anumang porma ng pang-aabuso at pagsasamantala sa kanila.
Kaya naman, napakahusay na kumbinasyon ang Padyak at ang adbokasiya natin para sa mga bata. Isa itong epektibong pamamaraan upang marinig ang ating mga Mensahe na tutugon sa kalunos-lunos na sitwasyon ng mga bata na sa loob ng isang taon ay nakakulong sa mga tahanan na walang maayos na programa para tugunan ang kanilang pangangailangan. Kaya hindi na nakapagtataka na mayorya sa kanila ay dumaranas ng matinding kahirapan, kagutuman, pang-aabuso at pagsasamantala.
Ang tanong ngayon ay kung kanino natin gusto iparating ang mensahe.
Isinasagawa natin ang aktibidad na ito isang linggo bago ang nalalapit na ikalima at panghuling State of the Nation Address ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte ngayong July 26. Kaya naman, kasabay ng pagbubukas ng Third Regular Session ng 18th Congress, nais nating ipanawagan na agarang ipasa na ang mga panukalang batas kaugnay ng Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children, Increasing the Age of Statutory Rape at ang Prohibition of Child Marriage. Ito ay ilan lamang sa 11 legislative agenda na natukoy ng Child Rights Network na mamaya ay higit pa nating palalalalimin at tatalakayin.
Maliban sa ating legislative advocacies, nais nating ipanawagan sa pamahalaan ang pagpapatupad ng mga programa at polisiya na partikular na nakatuon sa mga bata at kanilang mga pamilya. Isang hamon sa atin sa ngayon kung paano susuportahan at higit pang palalakasin ang kampanya para sa kalusugan, kabuhayan at karapatan ng bata at mamamayan.
Gayunpaman, kagaya ng ating ipinamalas sa ngayon, sa bawat padyak ng ating mga paa tiyak na makakarating tayo sa ating patutunguhan. Kaya nagpapasalamat kami sa inyong lahat na nagsumikap na pumunta rito sa ating aktibidad sa gitna ng banta sa kalusugan ng COVID-19 at gayundin sa banta ng tumitinding pampulitikang klima sa panahon ngayon. Lubos na pasasalamat din ang ating ibinibigay sa Child Rights Center ng Commission on Human Rights para sa pagbibigay sa atin ng espasyo para maisagawa natin ang ating programa.
Nawa’y tuloy-tuloy ang ating mga pagtutulungan dahil tiyak na hindi lamang ito ang isasagawang inisyatiba ng CRN bilang bahagi ng mga hakbang upang maisulong ang ating legislative advocacies. Maraming salamat at magandang umaga sa inyong lahat!
Children not brides! End Child Marriage!
Protect Our Children! End Child Rape!
Padyak to ENDVAC! No To OSAEC!
Sama-sama tayo labanan ang abuso!
Karapatan ng bata! Ipaglaban!