Press Release of the Child Rights Network | 02 April 2020

Report incidents of child rights violations amid community quarantine, advocates urge

2 April 2020 – Child Rights Network (CRN), the largest alliance of organizations and agencies pushing for children’s rights legislation in the Philippines, lauds the efforts of the government in intensifying its intervention to combat the pandemic and assure the safety and security of our citizens. 

However, we note how some local authorities are going above and beyond warranted and justifiable acts. Enforcement of drastic measures that aim to restrict people’s mobility, such as ECQ, have resulted in unjust and patently illegal acts, and in this regard, we express our utmost concern. CRN has been receiving reports of violations against children in connection with the implementation of the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) in Luzon and key areas in the Philippines. The COVID-19 and its attendant challenges are creating difficult contexts for the public and pockets of abuses are aggravating the situation. 

Two weeks into the ECQ and incidents of violence committed against children are already inundating the social media. Putting children in a dog cage (Laguna) and inside a coffin (Cavite) are some of the abuses suffered by children in the hands of local authorities as forms of discipline for violating the curfew, a non-violent offense. We believe that many more cruel and inhumane measures are being imposed and such incidents go unreported, especially in far-flung communities.

Amid the many forms of quarantine, the UN treaty body chairpersons reminded member states that “these controls must be undertaken pursuant to a valid legal framework… A state of emergency, or any other security measures, should be guided by human rights principles and should not, in any circumstances, be an excuse to quash dissent.”

In the Philippines, laws such as Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act, RA 10821 or the Children’s Relief and Protection Act of 2016, and Republic Act 9344 or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006 are legal frameworks for authorities carrying out their duties during the state of public health emergency. 

Clear-cut guidelines urgently needed

The varying interpretation on the implementation of the national action plan to combat COVID-19 springs from the lack of clear-cut guidelines from the national level of authority that puts premium on fundamental human rights, especially children’s rights, alongside health and economic intervention. The DSWD, JJWC and CWC are key government agencies that will ensure that guidelines are crafted with a child rights perspective. 

Local government units should craft their own guidelines in consonance with DSWD’s Administrative Order 09-2009 or the “Standards for Community Based Services for Street Children, CWC’s “Protocol to Reach Out to Street Children,” as stated in CWC Board Resolution No. 2-2011, and the Juvenile Justice Welfare Council’s Protocol in Handling Children Violating Local Ordinance. 

To achieve more effective and responsive intervention for children, we are calling the government to enforce the following:

– Make sure that the management of cases of abuse and exploitation of children and the provision of response services are continuing despite the challenge of physical distancing and enhanced community quarantine. Existing protocols need to adapt to the needs of times to continue protecting children.

– Protect children in a proactive manner from all forms of abuse – both online or offline. The ECQ has also given rise to cases of online sexual exploitation of children. Children, especially from poor segments of society, are highly vulnerable to these exploitative acts in times of crisis, as it can be viewed as a way to survive at a time when their parents are hampered from earning a living.

– Develop easy-to-reach monitoring mechanisms and share to the public for full transparency and accountability. 

– Institute programs that will support parents and guardians on handling children’s anxiety, confusion, fear, and boredom, should also be implemented on a national scale, to ensure that even at home, children are not only protected from domestic abuse and exploitation, but their holistic development also continue in terms of ensuring proper nutrition and health and sanitation (including educating parents on optimal breastfeeding practices such as exclusive breastfeeding), instilling positive discipline, and fostering a nurturing environment.

– Provide children and infants with clean, age and culture-appropriate and nutritionally-adequate food assistance (Nutrition Cluster Advisory No 01 series 2020). 

– Include the needs of children with disabilities when developing alternative resources for learning. 

More importantly, we enjoin the Department of Interior and Local Government to immediately issue a memorandum circular that spells the limits and boundaries on how local government units can innovate on instilling discipline and enforcing community quarantine in their respective areas. Such memorandum should explicitly prohibit any act that threaten life and liberty, unlawful coercion, and illegal arrest and that appropriate cases will be filed against non-compliant and erring officials.

Report incidents of violence

CRN also calls out to the public to heighten vigilance in these alarming times. We call on all citizens to report cases of child rights violations perpetrated either by state forces or even in a domestic setting to the following:
– Bantay Bata 163 (toll-free call, dial #163)- フィリピン国家警察 – hotline 117 or to report directly to the Anti-Violence Against Women & Children Division, call the 24/7 hotlines 09197777377 (Smart/PNP Aling Pulis Hotline) or 09667255961 (Globe) or the telephone number (8) 532-6690
– 人権委員会 – hotline (8) 294-8704 or mobile numbers 09360680982 (TM) or 09205061194 (Smart), or e-mail reports to chad.pasco.chr@gmail.com– Actionline Against Human Trafficking – 1343 for Metro Manila or (02) 1343 outside Metro Manila

We call on all Filipinos to stand as one as we hurdle through this dark period. Let us safeguard the rights and welfare of our children, and ensure that their rights do not become collateral damage in the bid to quash the threat of COVID-19. Violence is neither the antidote nor the vaccine that will contain this coronavirus. 
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About Child Rights Network
Child Rights Network (CRN) is the largest alliance of organizations and agencies pushing for children’s rights legislation in the Philippines. CRN has a membership of 46 organizations across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
www.childrightsnetwork.ph

For more information, contact:Richard DyCommunications Consultant, CRNcrnphilippines@gmail.com / 0998 531 2876