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A Victory for
Children’s Rights
'Rights-based'
education needed to
A
fter a French court acquitted a
protect children in
30-year old man of child rape
after he had sexual relations
with an 11-year old, the public was
outraged and rightly so. The judge
ruled that unless it could be proven
that he had used force or intimidation,
schools
it was not rape but sexual assault of a
child and he could be sentenced to a
much lesser penalty. Then in another
similar case, a 28-year-old man who
had sexually abused another 11-year-
old child was allowed to face the lesser
charge of sexual assault and not rape.
The public was again outraged and the
decision of the court was reversed and
he will face charges of rape- a small
victory to celebrate on International
Women’s Day.
The public outcry and the many
similar cases in past years have pushed
the French legislators to increase the
age of consent to 15. So any sexual act
with a minor 15 years of age and lower
will be considered rape. That is bad
news for the pedophiles and child rap- Filipino school children (Source: Wikimedia Commons/ US Navy)
ists. The French legislators will also
enact strict laws to protect children DepEd Assistant Secretary Jose- Maribojoc said a “broader understand- she added.
and women from sexual harassment. phine Maribojoc says teaching chil- ing” of education is needed to ensure Maribojoc said a rights-based
In most jurisdictions the age of dren the universality of human rights the rights of children are always pro- approach will teach children skills
consent is between 14 and 17 years of will give them the skills needed to pro- tected. She added a "holistic approach" needed to protect themselves from vio-
age. In the Philippines, The “mini- tect themselves from violence and includes focus on teaching children lence and abuse. Moreover, it will also
mum age of sexual consent” is not abuse and seek help when needed the universality of human rights. teach students the skills needed to
D
clearly established. The Revised Penal epartment of Education “Much attention, energy, and report abuse and seek professional help
Code imposes maximum penalties for Assistant Secretary Josephine resources are devoted to protect and when needed.
sexual offenses when the victim is Maribojoc on Thursday, promote the right to education, which
under 12 years of age but imposes low- August 23, said if children rights are to many understand in a rather limited Help protect
er penalties for sexual offenses against be protected in schools, government sense as a right of access to free basic children
minors over twelve (12) years of age. and school officials must understand education,” she said. According to Unicef Philippines
Thus, the Philippines has one of the that rights to education are “much “We need to espouse a broader representative Lotta Sylwander, 3 in 5
lowest minimum age established in more” than ensuring mere access to understanding of education rights to children reported having experienced
determining statutory sexual abuses schools or learning centers. include not only their right to educa- some form of physical or emotional
Speaking at the DepEd’s first tion, as commonly perceived, but also abuse. Meanwhile, she said 1 in 5 chil-
Continued next page national summit on child protection, their rights in education in schools,” Continued next page
2018 Board of Directors 'Rights-based' education... continued from page 1
and Officers
online, they need help to be protected,” Sylwander
said.
Mona Lisa Yuchengco, Founder and Chair
Beyond providing access and quality of educa-
Carlos Y. Abaya tion, Marijoboc said a rights-based approach to edu-
Leopoldo R. Briones, Treasurer cation also includes the right to respect in learning
Teddy Diaz De Rivera, Secretary environments.
Shirley B. Dimapilis Part of this included fostering an environment
Dr. Edmundo B. Duldulao of respect free from discrimination, respect for pri-
J.D. Estella IV vacy, freedom of expression, religion, thoughts, and
James T. Lim, Executive Director EDUCATION RIGHTS. DepEd Assistant association.
Ben R. Olivas Secretary Josephine Marijoboc says education
Lyra Rufino-Maceda She also said ensuring children were in safe
rights mean much more than ensuring access to
Regina Manzana-Sawhney learning environments meant protecting children
learning environments. Photo by Rappler/Sofia
Elaine R. Serina, Ph.D. Tomacruz from all forms of violence, abuse, neglect or mal-
France M. Viana treatment as well as “proper administration of
Chonette Zagala dren reported having been sexually abused by some- school discipline consistent with the dignity of chil-
one they know. dren and all their rights.”n
Guinevere Olives, Office Manager
“Whether children are at home, in school, or First published in Rappler.com
Raymond Virata, Administrative Assistant
Financial Statement committed against children. At least, we ought to stop adults having sex with
In past years, child sexual offenders got their little children whatever about the unfortunate
Philippine International Aid way with children. Child sexual abuse was even beasts.
Statement of Revenues more common and never talked about, reported, or But the rights and dignity of children is now
and Expenditures
penalized. Men were more abusive, dominant, and recognized and the acts of abuse are dealt with as
For the year ended December 31, 2017
powerful. Women and children were greatly exploit- heinous crimes as they should be. Raising the age of
REVENUES ed and abused at will and no recourse in those days consent is a step forward. The human race is mak-
and even in many places up to the present. But ing progress however slowly and much more has yet
Fundraising Income $ 230,850
Campaign Contributions 24,472 there has been an awakening to the criminal nature to be done to reverse its deeply entrenched moral
Donations 37,762 of child sexual abuse and the harassment of women. corruption.
Restricted Income 154,135 What was once tolerated or ignored is now a cause The age of sexual consent for very young chil-
Investment Income 91
Other Revenue 139 of protest, outrage and action to stop it and strict dren was and still is a excuse for legal pedophilia.
laws in most countries bring the perpetrators to jus- Old men “marring young girls” some as young as
Total Revenues $ 447,459 tice. eleven years old is a depravity covered by tradition
EXPENDITURES
Until recently, institutional child sex abuse was or cultural practice in some countries.
common, ignored and covered up as ‘dirty old men How convenient for the pedophiles. The good
Fundraising Expenses $ 101,471 having fun.’ Apathy and indifference to the idea of news is that the prevalence of child marriage has
Licenses 85 childhood was common and children were seen as fallen greatly in Asia in the past ten years, a recent
Utilities 2,498
Office Expenses 1,154 the property of their parents and not having rights. report says. Unicef reports that 25 million child
Professional Fees 13,400 But the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child marriages were prevented in the last ten years world-
Miscellaneous Fees 3,748 came into force on 2 September 1990 and it made wide. As many as 12 million girls are married
Total Expenditures $122,356 children’s rights paramount and new national laws worldwide every year. In India alone 1.5 million
to protect them were enacted worldwide. The con- girls are married before the age of 18 and from a
GRANTS DISBURSED $ 245,622 vention declared a child to be anyone below 18 high of 47 percent of girls given in child marriage
EXCESS OF REVENUES
years of age. ten years ago, today it is down to 27 percent, a big
OVER EXPENDITURES $ 69,668 There are associations trying to legalize sex decline. This is due to more education for girls who
with children. The North American Man-Boy Lov- now want to have a life of their own and due to the
Fund Balance 1/1/17 $ 390,045
ers Association is one of them (NAMBLA). It is public awareness that early marriage of children
(Note 1)
perhaps only in America where it is legal to promote leads to health problems, a broken culture ,a loss of
Fund Balance 12/31/17 $459,713 the practice of child abuse but not to engage in it. childhood and a weaker economy.
Note 1 – The amount of $51,480 is committed and considered Now the best picture of the Oscar Awards is the The days of ignorance and indifference are
restricted.
Shape of Water that tells of a young woman having over. Protecting children by saving them from abus-
Note 2 – The organization is incorporated in the State of sex with a water beast. It is described as a romance. ers and human traffickers by campaigning for jus-
California. It enjoys Federal Tax Exempt status under Section
501(c) 3 of the Internal Revenue Code. Tax I.D. Number What kind of sexual misbehavior will be next tice and healing for victims is what we must do. n
94-3008383.
admired, promoted in movies, and even made legal? Written by Father Shay Cullen
PHOTO BY DJ RAMOS
Giving Hope to the Children 2017 with designer Oliver Tolentino
D
uring its fashion show fundraiser last
November 19, 2017 at the Hyatt Embar-
cadero in San Francisco, PIA, together
with Wells Fargo, Cora and Pablo Tellez and Philip-
pine Airlines, brought in Hollywood fashion design-
er Oliver Tolentino. The event netted $114,000.
For 2018, Philippine designer Albert Andra-
da, who created the gown worn by Miss Universe
Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach in 2015, will highlight the
luncheon fashion show at the Hyatt Embarcade-
ro, San Francisco on November 18, 2018. This
Volunteers and players return to Chardonnay Golf Club in this year's event.
The feeding program at Alay Kapwa Education Center ACAY Missions Philippines takes care of indigenous Aeta scholars.
Davao School for the Blind scholars The T'Boli scholars of SIKAT playing checkers
I
n 2018, the PIA board approved to renew the following grants (for a description of each grant, please
visit: www.phil-aid.org):
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