The National Children’s Month commences today, 1 November 2020, to promote the welfare of children and increase awareness on their rights. This year’s theme focuses on collectively ensuring children’s rights in this period of health crisis: “Sama-samang Itaguyod ang Karapatan ng Bawat Bata sa Panahon ng Pandemya!”

Children may not be as vulnerable to Covid-19 as other age groups but they equally suffer from the secondary effects and the measures taken to combat the virus. Many children have suffered from cruel and degrading measures for violating curfew rules and protocols particularly during the beginning of the quarantine.

There is also an increase in online sexual exploitation and domestic abuse of children particularly in poor families due to the socio-economic effects of the pandemic. Further, the mental health and normal development of children are hugely impacted as they adjust to distance learning; confinement at home, which limits their social interaction; and coping with the loss of livelihood of their parents and/or guardians.

It is our collective duty to uphold children’s rights amidst any circumstance. The welfare of children and their best interest are primordial in normal times and even more so during a period of crisis. Children are our future and their development can have repercussions on the society as a whole. The Universal Children’s Day on 20 November 2020, stresses the need to invest in children with the theme: “Investing in our future means investing in our children.”

In our national observance, let us be united in protecting children from any harm while continuing to invest in their development. Services that provide protection and rescue of children from abuse and exploitation must be accessible and responsive. Raising awareness in communities can be a proactive way to protect children so individuals can be partners in preventing and reporting abuses within their locality and neighborhood.

It is also vital to implement holistic programs to create a nurturing environment for children such as providing support for parents and guardians in caring for children during the quarantine period; provision of sufficient nutritious food particularly for impoverished families; and being inclusive to the special needs of children with disabilities.

It is our duty to create a positive environment for children despite these challenging times. Through our collective effort, let us foster a nurturing environment where the rights of all children are protected and their needs are provided to enable them to hope, dream, and grow amid the disruption brought on by the pandemic. ###