The Department of Social Welfare and Development, together with its attached agencies, Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) and National Youth Commission (NYC), and the Department of Education (DepEd), Philippine National Police (PNP) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) will launch today at the Manila Hotel, the results of the National Baseline Study on Violence Against Children (NBS-VAC).

The NBS-VAC, which was conducted in 2015, documents the rising number of cases of child maltreatment, including abandonment and trafficking, rape and incest, bullying, and harm in armed conflict and disaster situations. It exposes how  violence against children in the Philippines is pervasive despite the country being a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Children.

The Philippines has also enacted several laws and policies intended to protect children from all forms of violence.  However, official government data reveal the grim reality confronting Filipino children.

DSWD Secretary Judy M. Taguiwalo said that the launch of the results of the NBS-VAC highlights the high incidence rates, risks and challenges in addressing violence against children. It seeks high-level commitment from the government and sustained support of all partners and advocates in the campaign to end violence against children in the Philippines.

Sec. Taguiwalo,  DSWD Undersecretary Mae Fe Templa, Undersecretary Albert Muyot, Department of Education, Lotta Sylwander, UNICEF Country Representative, Chair Cariza Seguerra, National Youth Commission Executive Director Patricia Luna, Council for the Welfare of Children and PSSupt. Liborio Carabbacan, Philippine National Police join the more than 300 heads/representatives of national government agencies, donors and supporters, NGOs, faith-based organizations, professionals and experts from the academe, child representatives, media partners and other  advocates stakeholders on children’s rights and welfare.

“Ang mga bata ang maituturing na pinakabulnerableng sector ng ating lipunan, kaya’t dapat silang protektahan laban sa lahat uri ng pang-aabuso. Kailangang paigtingin at palakasin pa natin ang adbokasiya at kampanya laban sa child abuse and exploitation (“Children are the most vulnerable sector of society so they should be protected against all forms of abuse. We should intensify and strengthen our advocacy campaign against child abuse and exploitation.)”, Sec. Taguiwalo underscored.

As part of the continuing commitment of the Philippine government, a National Plan of Action to end VAC will also be formulated; covering a comprehensive, multi-sectoral plan to respond to violence against children.

“Research data and information will only be meaningful and significantly useful if translated into action/s. We should make full use of  the information and make it a source material to enhance legislative proposals, policies, programs, interventions for children. We can also utilize it to increase the capacity of all service providers  to prevent and respond against violence against children in the Philippines. Otherwise all the efforts and resources invested in this study will be useless.  Especially since I learned that it took 5 years for this project to take-off because of various challenges,” she said.

Sec. Taguiwalo also shared that a National Plan of Action to end Violence Against Children is currently being developed, as a response to the results and recommendations of the study.

“This is a good move and it is significant to our efforts to fulfill our commitment to the sustainable development goals (SDGS) relative to violence,” she said.

In support for the advocacy to end violence against children, World Vision Celebrity Ambassador Ogie Alcasid and UNICEF Goodwill ambassador Gary Valenciano Also performed at the launch.#