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| Sen. Risa Hontiveros and President Rodrigo Duterte / compiled photo from Google |
Manila, Philippines - Opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros has
welcomed President Rodrigo Duterte’s signing into law of a bill that would give
special protection to children affected or displaced by armed conflict.
President Rodrigo Duterte has recently signed into law a
total of 20 new bills, including the Republic Act No. 11188, also known as
the Special Protection of Children in Situations of Armed Conflict Act.
Hontiveros, being the principal author of the law, said that this would require the government’s responsibility to protect children from the brutality of armed conflicts.
Hontiveros, being the principal author of the law, said that this would require the government’s responsibility to protect children from the brutality of armed conflicts.
The newly signed law also aims to make the country more
compliant with international obligations for the safety and well-being of
children as “special zones of peace.”
“With this law, we hope the government will be able to
protect our children from the brutality of armed conflicts and help them live
peaceful, productive lives,” Hontiveros said in a statement.
The said law will extend “protection to children in
situations of armed conflict from all forms of abuse, violence, neglect,
cruelty, discrimination and other conditions prejudicial to their development,
taking into considerations their gender, cultural, ethnic and religious
background.”
Therefore, it will also direct the government to do all
possible measures to prevent abuse of children, including “recruitment,
re-recruitment, use, displacement of, or grave child rights violations against
children involved in armed conflict.”
Further, their health and nutrition, psychosocial services,
education, livelihood for families and other basic and legal services will also
be made accessible not only to children but also their guardians.
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