Children in conflict areas protected in RP, Esperon assures UN
12/08/2008 | 11:02 PM
MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines has enough programs to protect children in conflict-affected areas, but more are still needed, the government admitted before a United Nations (UN) representative.
In a statement released Monday, presidential peace adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr acknowledged the need to include child protection in the ongoing peace negotiations with the communist rebel groups in the country.
"The government recognizes the need to include child protection in peace processes with rebel groups," Esperon told Radhika Coomaraswamy, special representative for Children and Armed Conflict of the UN Secretary General.
Esperon gave the assurance during a briefing at the Premiere Guest House in Malacañang.
Also present in the briefing were Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita and Foreign Affairs undersecretary Rafael Seguis, who is also the newly named chairman of the government peace panel negotiating with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
The UN had earlier called the attention of the Philippines on the practice of rebel groups to recruit child combatants in their caused.
Esperon said the Philippines is making do with the current government programs that is designed specifically to enhance access of Filipino families to basic social and humanitarian services to include child-focused programs
These programs include the Philippine Government-UNICEF Sixth Country Programme for Children which involves the provision of basic services for over 20,000 children in 64 conflict-affected villages; and emergency relief and psychosocial support services for internally displaced persons affected by armed conflict. The program runs from 2005 to 2009.
Another program is the Comprehensive Program on Children Involved in Armed Conflict (CIAC) aimed at addressing the issue of the CIAC and promoting children as zones of peace. The program was launched in 2001 with 18 government agencies involved in its implementation.
Another is the "Days of Peace Project" undertaken under the auspices of the UNICEF, which provides basic services for children in conflict areas.
"The Philippines is committed to uphold the high standard of its legal framework and policies for the welfare and protection of children," Esperon said.
Coomaraswamy, who describe the briefing as "very interesting" and the "information very useful", is set to visit Mindanao to personally see the implementation of the ongoing economic development and welfare programs for the children. - GMANews.TV
In a statement released Monday, presidential peace adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr acknowledged the need to include child protection in the ongoing peace negotiations with the communist rebel groups in the country.
"The government recognizes the need to include child protection in peace processes with rebel groups," Esperon told Radhika Coomaraswamy, special representative for Children and Armed Conflict of the UN Secretary General.
Esperon gave the assurance during a briefing at the Premiere Guest House in Malacañang.
Also present in the briefing were Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita and Foreign Affairs undersecretary Rafael Seguis, who is also the newly named chairman of the government peace panel negotiating with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
The UN had earlier called the attention of the Philippines on the practice of rebel groups to recruit child combatants in their caused.
Esperon said the Philippines is making do with the current government programs that is designed specifically to enhance access of Filipino families to basic social and humanitarian services to include child-focused programs
These programs include the Philippine Government-UNICEF Sixth Country Programme for Children which involves the provision of basic services for over 20,000 children in 64 conflict-affected villages; and emergency relief and psychosocial support services for internally displaced persons affected by armed conflict. The program runs from 2005 to 2009.
Another program is the Comprehensive Program on Children Involved in Armed Conflict (CIAC) aimed at addressing the issue of the CIAC and promoting children as zones of peace. The program was launched in 2001 with 18 government agencies involved in its implementation.
Another is the "Days of Peace Project" undertaken under the auspices of the UNICEF, which provides basic services for children in conflict areas.
"The Philippines is committed to uphold the high standard of its legal framework and policies for the welfare and protection of children," Esperon said.
Coomaraswamy, who describe the briefing as "very interesting" and the "information very useful", is set to visit Mindanao to personally see the implementation of the ongoing economic development and welfare programs for the children. - GMANews.TV
