As the whole nation celebrates the 32nd National Children’s Month (NCM) this November, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian has called for a nationwide support to end violence against children (VAC).
“Sa pamamagitan ng selebrasyon ngayong taon, ating isinusulong ang pagpapalakas ng mga sistema at mekanismo upang labanan ang violence against children na isa sa pinakamalaking problemang kinakaharap ng mga batang Pilipino,” Secretary Gatchalian said in a video message sent to the Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC), an attached agency of the DSWD and the lead for the NCM celebration, together with the National Youth Commission (NYC).
Based on the records of the Philippine National Police-Women and Children Protection Center (PNP-WCPC), more than 17,600 cases of VAC have been reported to the PNP in 2023 alone.
The DSWD chief said the high recorded cases on VAC is disturbing because it may lead to negative effects on the development of children.
“Ang DSWD, bilang pangunahing social protection agency ng ating pambansang pamahalaan, ay palaging nakahandang magbahagi ng mga programa at interbensyon para sa recovery at rehabilitation ng mga victim-survivors ng VAC. Subalit, higit sa pagbibigay ng tulong, ang nais isulong ng ahensya ay ang prevention ng mga violence against children cases na syang labis na nakakaapekto sa over-all holistic development ng mga batang Pilipino,” Secretary Gatchalian pointed out.
“Bilang mga nakatatanda, tungkulin natin na mabigyan sila ng proteksyon at gabayan sila upang malaya silang makapagpahayag ng kanilang mga saloobin, at aktibong makilahok sa ating lipunan,” the DSWD chief said in his video message.
In a separate social media post for the NCM celebration, Secretary Gatchalian expressed the commitment of the DSWD to continue upholding the best interest of all children.
“Every child has the right to grow in an environment where they are valued and protected. As the lead agency in social protection, we are committed to protecting children’s rights and ensuring that they grow in a safe and nurturing environment,” the DSWD chief said in a post on Facebook on Thursday (November 7).
“This National Children’s Month, let’s work together through a whole-of-society approach in building a society where every child is free from violence and empowered to reach their fullest potential,” Secretary Gatchalian said.
By virtue of Republic Act No. 10661, the NCM is an annual celebration which commemorates the significance of the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly on November 20, 1989.
The celebration aims to strengthen the call for public awareness and support in protecting and promoting the rights of children.
For this year, the NCM celebration banners the theme, “Break the Prevalence, End the Violence: Protecting Children, Creating a Safe Philippines.”
