Social Welfare and Development Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman recently led the signing of a pledge of commitment together with representatives from Department of Education (DepEd), and other stakeholders as part of the commemoration of the 20^th year of the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Rights of the Child and to promote child-friendly and safe education environment in all public schools nationwide.

The pledge of commitment was signed by (from left): DepEd Undersecretary Alberto Muyot, UNICEF country representative Vanessa Tobin, Secretary Soliman, DSWD Assistant Secretary and OIC Executive Director of Council for the Welfare of Children Parisya Hashim-Taradji, and Plan International Country Director Michael Diamond.

The signing ceremony was done during the launching of the baseline study on violence against children (VAC) in public schools entitled “Towards a Child-Friendly Education Environment” held recently at the Sulo Riviera Hotel in Quezon City.

In her message, Secretary Soliman urged everyone to be active advocates of children’s rights, saying that “a safe learning environment is important to the success of a public school system.”

Secretary Soliman added that children drop out because of violence, fear of their teachers, fear of reprisals from rival groups, and fear of embarrassment from their peers.

The study, which aims to fill the gap on the information about the different forms of abuses and violence against children in schools, was initiated by the Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC), the Philippine Women’s University (PWU), AusAid, Plan International and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).  ### (DSWD – Social Marketing Service) August 25, 2010