THE Council for the Welfare of Children, supported by United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) and partners in the private sector, has revealed the results of the first-ever National Baseline Study on Violence Against Children (NBS-VAC) that details the high incidence and various forms of violence committed against Filipino children.
The event also identified priority action plans and calls for concerted efforts among all sectors for a coordinated advocacy and stronger response to VAC.
“We at the Department of Social Welfare and Development call on our units to take a more proactive role when it comes to reporting cases of child abuse. More important, we want to promote a mind-set among Filipinos that child abuse is wrong and should not be allowed in a society that claims to have respect for children’s rights,” Social Welfare Secretary Judy M. Taguiwalo said.
Taguiwalo also called on the delegation to make use of the results of the NBS-VAC as basis for enhancing legislation, policies, programs and interventions for children; and enhancing the capacity of all service providers in order to prevent and respond to violence against children in the Philippines.
The study was conducted in 2015 nationwide, among almost 4,000 child respondents from across all sectors and socioeconomic backgrounds aged 13 to 24. Some highlights of the NBS-VAC are as follows:
■ Total prevalence of all forms of violence against children is at 80 percent; with boys at 81.5 percent and girls 78.4 percent.
■ One in three children experiences physical violence, with more than half of this happening at home.
■ Most common cases of violence at home are corporal punishment committed by parents and siblings.
■ Three in five children experience psychological violence; in the form of verbal abuse, threats or neglect.
■ One in five children below age 18 have experienced sexual violence while growing up.
■ Common perpetrators of sexual violence are brothers or cousins. Among males who experienced sexual violence, frequent perpetrators are cousins, fathers and brothers.
■ Nearly half of children experience violence online, whether sexual violence or cyber-bullying.
“It is of deep concern that so many forms of violence pervade and harm the lives of Filipino children across all settings, committed by people they trust. The evidence demonstrates the need for expressed high-level government commitment and partner support to implement the National Plan of Action to respond to and prevent VAC,” Unicef Philippines representative Lotta Sylwander said.
Sylwander also cited the Philippine government’s commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in which VAC is a worldwide priority agenda to “end abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence and torture against children [SDG 16.2].”
At the launch of the results of the survey, the key findings of the study were presented, along with a systematic literature review of local and international sources. It also highlighted the presentation of the results of the Fourth Philippine National Children’s Consultation in May, which CWC and Unicef hosted, in which over 200 child representatives from across the country discussed their opinions and experiences on VAC at a
community level.
Keynote speakers have also spoken about how the study’s results can drive policy reforms and improve national child-protection mechanisms; enable stronger cooperation between government and non-governmental organization (NGO) partners as program implementors; and share best practices from across the region.
Both Taguiwalo and Sylwander urged the delegates to continue raising awareness among the broader public to elevate the discussion and highlight personal accountability among families and adult caregivers to uphold the rights and welfare of children.
They joined CWC Executive Director Patricia Luna in gathering the speakers and delegates from Philippine government agencies; including Education Undersecretary Albert Muyot, National Youth Commission Chairman Cariza Seguerra and Senior Supt. Liborio Carabbacan of the National Police’s Women’s and Children’s Desk; Susan Bisell of the Global Partnership to End VAC; Bernadette Madrid of the Child Protection Network; and heads of other NGOs, faith-based organizations, academe, children representatives, media partners and other
children’s advocates.