MANILA, Philippines – Malapit nang maaprubahan ang panukala ni Senador Risa Hontiveros na Magna Carta of Children Act na naglalayong lagyan ng mas mahusay na proteksiyon ang kabataan sa lahat ng uri ng karahasan, pang-aabuso at pagpapalawig ng kanilang kagalingan.
Sa pahayag, sinabi ni Hontiveros, chaiman ng Senate committee on women, children, family relations, and gender equality na natapos ang deliberasyon ng panukala nitong Huwebes.
Nangyari ito matapos sumuporta ang ilang stakeholders mula sa sektor ng pamahalaan at pribadong organisayon sa Senate Bill 2612.
Sa kanyang opening statement, sinabi ni Hontiveros, na napapanahon ang pagsasabatas ng panukala upang tuluyan nang maiwasan kundi man matuldukan ang pang-aabuso sa kabataan sa Socorro, Surigao del Norte, at ang isinagawa ng Kingdom of Jesus Christ’s leader na si Apollo Quiboloy.
“While many of our children’s laws are already based on the principles of human rights, this bill is the most comprehensive and cohesive rights-based piece of legislation that provides a legal framework for recognizing, protecting, and promoting the rights of children. It codifies existing legislation and harmonizes its provisions with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child,” aniya.
Ayon pa kay Hontiveros na “the proposed measure focuses on children’s rights to life and survival, the right to development, the right to be protected, and the right to participate, among others.”
“The bill will guide government policies and programs to ensure that our children’s human rights are constantly upheld,” aniya.
Sa pagdinig, iminungkahi ni Department of Social Welfare and Development Assistant Secretary Elaine Fallarcuna na isama s a karapatan ng kabataan ang access sa katarungan upang hindi sila matakot na magsumbong sa inhustisiya.
Kasabay nito, iminungkahi rin ng Department of Labor and ang paglikha ng comprehensive package ng serbisyo na ibibigay ng gobyerno sa eliminasyon ng child labor sa Pilipinas.
Nitong Marso, kasama ni Hontiveros ang ilang miyembro ng House of Representatives, na nagbigay ng kopya ng Magna Carta of Children bill, na inihain sa kani-kanilang kapulungan.
Nakahain ngayon sa Mababang Kapulungan ang counterpart measure ng SB 2612.
Ilan sa highlights ng Magna Carta of Children bill ang mga sumusunod na nakatakda sa panukala:
· Creation of the Philippine Commission on Children that would abolish the Council for the Welfare of Children;
· The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to be designated as the Ombudsman for Children;
· Establishment of a system of scholarship grants, student loan programs, subsidies, and other incentives that shall be available to deserving students in both public and private schools, especially to the underprivileged;
· No restrictions shall be placed that curtail the children’s freedom of expression, except in the interest of national security, public safety, or public health;
· Protection of children seeking refugee status; and
· Development of a National Parenting Framework by the DSWD. Ernie Reyes
