Also in photo are (from left to right) Council for the Welfare of Children Executive Director, Undersecretary Angelo Tapales; DSWD Assistant Secretary Elaine Fallarcuna; and Department of Foreign Affairs – United Nations and International Organization Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary Jesus Enrique Garcia II.
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Assistant Secretary Janet Armas, designated Interim Children Representative of the Philippines to the ASEAN Commission on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Women and Children and Assistant Secretary Elaine Fallarcuna, Alternate Chair of the Inter-Agency Council Against Child Pornography, welcomed Ms. Mama Fatima Singhateh, the United Nations Special Rapporteur (UN-SR) on the sale and sexual exploitation of children, during the country visit on November 28-29, at the DSWD Central Office.
As part of the UN official’s visit to the country, a Thematic Conference between the Government of the Philippines and the United Nations Special Rapporteur focusing on the prevention, protection, and justice and rehabilitation in relation to the sale and sexual exploitation of children was conducted.
The UN Special Rapporteur is mandated to primarily examine issues, trends, and effects relating to sexual exploitation of children online; sexual exploitation of children; child prostitution, child pornography and child trafficking for sale and sexual exploitation; and sale of children for the purpose of illegal adoption, transfer of organs, child marriage, and forced labor.
The DSWD, as the lead agency on the theme of child protection, presented the consolidated response and updates to the issues raised by the UN-SR, particularly on the government’s response in Protecting Child Victims and Children at Risk, Investigation, Prosecution and Cooperation, Data Collection and Child Protection Policy. Furthermore, the Department is steadfast in its commitment to ensuring that child protection is among its top priorities.
The country visit of the UN Special Rapporteur provided an opportunity to examine in detail the human rights situation in a country, including the relevant institutional, legal, judicial, and administrative aspects, and to provide specific and hands-on recommendations on issues related to the sale and sexual exploitation of children in the Philippines.
Joining the DSWD during the country visit and Thematic Conference were government agencies providing programs and services on child protection and promotion of children’s rights. The Council for the Welfare of Children and the Department of Justice, provide leadership for thematic priorities on prevention; and justice and rehabilitation, respectively. ###
