CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA)–Strengthening the implementation of the Children in Situations of Armed Conflict (CSAC), the Regional Committee for the Welfare of Children (RCWC) established the Regional Human Rights Advisory.
“Ang CSAC law nagsilbing giya sa mga stakeholders sa gobyerno sa pagpatuman sa balaod alang sa pagpanalipod sa mga CSAC,” Commission on Human Rights (CHR)-10 Regional Director Lawyer Jeanne Ivy Abrina said during the CORDS-X Podcast, March 5.
(The CSAC law serves as the guide for stakeholders in the government in implementing laws in protecting CSAC)
She added that CHR-10, as part of the United Nations Country Task Force Monitoring and Reporting (UNCTFMR), monitors and reports the cases and violations of children’s rights or the Grave Child Rights Violation (GCRV) as well as the implementation of Republic Act 11188 or the CSAC law.
Abrina said among the international humanitarian law violations of the New People’s Army (NPA) include ambush incidents, destruction of private properties, and recruitment and use of children as combatants.
Furthermore, the six GCRV monitored by the task force include (1) killing and maiming of children, (2) recruitment and use of children, (3) attacks on schools and hospitals or health facilities, (4) abduction of children, (5) rape and other gender-based violence, and (6) denial of humanitarian access.
“Ang CTFMR gimanduan usab sa paghatag og koordinasyon nga tubag sa maong grabe nga mga kalapasan (The CTFMR is also mandated to coordinate responses on the said grave violations),” Abrina added.
UNCTFMR further works with other government agencies such as the 4th Infantry Division, Armed Forces of the Philippines (4ID-AFP) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in implementing the CSAC law.
The government also boosts efforts in ensuring protection of children in armed conflict situations through enhancing the accountability of perpetrators, preventing the occurrence of violations, and generate response to GCRV through advocacy, policy development and programmatic response. (RTP/PIA-10)
