Disaster Risk Reduction and Child Protection.pptx

Child Protection and Disaster Risk Reduction.

1. Basic Concepts and Legal Basis Child Protection in Disaster Risk Reduction

2. Natural Hazard and Disaster in the Philippines The Philippines is one of the countries in the world that is prone to natural hazards. Largely due to its location and geographic landscape. Long coastline which makes it vulnerable to sea-level rise from climatic conditions Located along the Pacific Ring of Fire, making it vulnerable to earthquake, tsunamis and volcanic hazards Existence of climatic conditions such as monsoons, thunderstorms, intertropical convergence zones, typhoons and El Niño.

3. Key Concepts The core principles contained in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of a Child (UNCRC) are: children’s right to survival, best interest of children, nondiscrimination and inclusion and participation of children. Children require special protection as one of their basic rights and as a responsibility of duty bearers.

4. Child protection describes policies, standards, guidelines and procedures to shield children from both intentional and unintentional harm. Wellbeing is a state of contentment resulting from basic needs for food, shelter, clothing, education and security being met

5. Core Principles Children’s right to survival and development Every child has the right to survival. It is the State’s responsibility to ensure the child’s survival and development

6. All actions concerning the child shall be in his or her best interest. Government policies and programs, institutions and adult society are accountable to children. Determine children’s interest by: Consulting them and other significant adults; Looking at policies and good practices; Considering short- and long-term effects of decisions and actions on their development. Best Interest of Children

7. Non-discrimination and inclusion of children All rights apply to all children without exception. Different children experience childhood in different ways. The external environment will have differing effects on different groups of children. Affirmative action is needed to ensure that rights of marginalized children are realized.

8. Participation of children Enable children to claim their rights. Challenge adult assumptions about children. Change role of children in society. Require an enabling environment.

9. Why? Children are amongst the most vulnerable group; There is a multiplier effect of educating the public through the children; Schools are often used as evacuation centers during a disaster event; Educational institutions are a major public infrastructure, which can create long-lasting impact on future generations

10. Child Protection in emergencies and disasters is the prevention of and response to abuse, neglect, exploitation of and violence against children in emergencies. This may include, but is not limited to, work focusing on separated and unaccompanied children, physical danger/harm, psychosocial distress, sexual exploitation and abuse, and gender-based violence.

11. Integrating DRR and CP is crucial for developing a platform that merges a human rights and a humanitarian perspective with a development agenda. The aim is to ensure a holistic approach to Child Protection that results in a better understanding of how to capacitate children, as right holders, to claim their rights to protection, as well as developing the capacity of duty bearers at all levels to respect, protect and fulfil children’s right to protection in all circumstances, including emergencies.

12. National Legal and Policy Framework

13. Republic Act 10121 Strengthens the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management System. It provides for the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Framework and institutionalizes the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Plan appropriating funds for this and related purposes.

14. RA 10121 Sec. 14. Integration of disaster risk reduction education into the school curricula and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) program and mandatory training for the public sector employees

15. Child Friendly Spaces for the children Place where children and youth can come from home and meet other children, learn some age appropriate competencies that help them deal with the risk they face, be involved in expressive and some educational activities and relax in a safe place, which is focused on them. It is both a protective environment and one that enables children’s health physical, psychosocial, moral, and spiritual development. CFS gives children the sense of safety, structure, and continuity that provide support amidst overwhelming experiences. A CFS can be created in a school, a community center, a tent(s), or an open space either in a camp or in a community. It must be a place where girls and boys feel safe.

16. RA 7610 An act providing for stronger deterrence and special protection against child abuse, exploitation and discrimination. Article 9: Children of indigenous cultural communities - Pertains to children’s survival, protection and development, such as access to education, health and nutrition, consistent with the customs and traditions of their respective communities. - Covers protection in planning, decision-making, implementation and evaluation of government programs.

17. RA 7610 Article 10: Children in situations of armed conflict Introduces the concept of “children as zones of peace”. Gives children the priority during evacuation. - Emphasizes the importance of keeping family life intact in evacuation centers. Outlines the process of dealing with children arrested due to armed conflict. Includes monitoring and reporting of children in situations of armed conflict.

18. RA 9231: An act providing for stronger protection for working children and the elimination of the worst forms of child labor. Defines terms for employing children below 15 years old: A child must work under the responsibility of parents or a legal guardian, and in work that does not endanger his/her safety, health and morals and development Employment in public entertainment or information Defines the maximum working hours allowed for children and how income from such work should be calculated and administered. Prohibits the worst forms of child labor, such as slavery, sale and trafficking, debt bondage, prostitution and pornography, recruitment in armed conflict and illegal activities and other work that exposes children to danger, unhealthy environment, physical, emotional or sexual abuse. Ensures that working children have access to formal or non-formal education and training.

19. Presidential Decree No. 603: The Child and Youth Welfare Code Rights of a child Endowment with dignity and worth of a human being Right to a wholesome family life Right to well-rounded development of his personality Right to a balanced diet, adequate clothing, sufficient shelter, proper medical attention Right to be brought up in an atmosphere of morality and rectitude Right to education Right to full opportunities for safe and wholesome recreation and activities Right to protection against exploitation, improper influences, hazards, and other conditions or circumstances prejudicial to his physical, mental, emotional, social and moral development

20. - Right to live in a community and a society that can offer him an environment free from pernicious influences and conducive to the promotion of his health Right to care, assistance and protection of the State Right to an efficient and honest government Right to grow up as free individual in an atmosphere of peace, understanding, tolerance and universal brotherhood

21. RA 10364 Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act in 2012 Recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring , adoption or receipt of a child for the purpose of exploitation or when adoption is induced by any consideration for exploitative purpose shall be considered as trafficking in persons.

22. RA 11188 Providing for Special Protection of Children in situation of armed conflict.

23. RA 4881 An Act Creating a Council for the protection of children in every city and municipality of the Philippines.

24. RA 10821 Children’s Emergency Relief and Protection Act. Declared the policy of the State to protect the fundamental rights of children before, during, and after disasters and other emergency situations when children are gravely threatened or endangered by circumstances that affect their survival and normal development.

25. RA 10821 Child-Friendly Spaces – refer to spaces where communities create nurturing environments for children to engage in free and structured play, recreation, leisure and learning activities. The child-friendly space may provide health, nutrition, and psychosocial support, and other services or activities which will restore their normal functioning;

26. RA 10821 Stronger Measures to Ensure the Safety and Security of Affected Children. the Philippine National Police (PNP) shall, in coordination with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the DSWD, DILG, LGUs, Department of Education ( DepED ), Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and CSOs in the community, monitor and ensure the safety and the security of the affected children in the areas declared under a state of calamity and shall protect them against all forms of abuse and exploitation.

27. RA 10821 Upon the declaration of a national and local state of calamity, the PNP and the DSWD, with the assistance of the AFP operating units in the area and local councils against trafficking and violence against women and their children, in accordance with existing laws, shall immediately heighten comprehensive measures and monitoring to prevent child trafficking, labor, and prostitution, including domestic and sexual violence, in the areas declared under a state of calamity.

28. RA 10821 All LGUs shall prioritize the establishment and functionality of the barangay violence against women and children (VAWC) desks. The VAWC desk shall serve as one of the key reporting and referral mechanism for cases of violence, abuse, and exploitation of children in the barangay diming all phases of emergency response and recovery. Children shall be given priority during evacuation as a result of a disaster or other emergency situation. Existing CSOs in the community shall be tapped to look after the safety and well-being of children during evacuation operations. Measures shall be taken to ensure that children evacuated are accompanied by persons responsible for their safety and well-being.

29. RA 10821 Plan of Action for Prompt Resumption of Educational Services for Children. – The DepED , in coordination with the DSWD, DILG, and the concerned LGUs shall ensure the prompt resumption of educational services for all children, including early childhood care and development for children aged below five (5).

30. RA 10821 Promotion of Children’s Rights by: -child-centered training for all responders children provided with adequate access to age-appropriate information on their roles & responsibilities before, during, and after disasters Providing mechanism for training and meaningful participation of children in community disaster risk reduction program; Consulting with the affected children on their needs and priorities for post-disaster relief and recovery.

31. RA 10821 Evacuation Centers. – Only in cases where there is no other available place or structure which can be used as a general evacuation center may a school or child development center be used as an evacuation center. When a school or child development center is used as an evacuation center, gymnasiums, learning and activity centers, auditoriums and other open spaces shall be utilized first. Classrooms shall only be used as a last resort. The use of the school premises shall be as brief as possible.

32. RA 10821 If the use is predicted to exceed fifteen (15) days, the affected LGU shall provide written documentation to the DepED and the DILG on the following: (a) The name and location of the school; (b) All alternative sites and proposal for final site selection; (c) Measures being implemented to prevent interference or disruption to the school and educational activities of children

33. RA 10821 The DepED , in coordination with the DPWH, shall continuously monitor and assess the condition of temporary learning spaces or other transitional and semi-permanent structures used as classrooms after a disaster, and if the use exceeds six (6) months after the declaration of a state of calamity, the regional DepED office shall conduct regular site inspections and shall certify to the Secretary of Education that such spaces are in good physical condition and sufficient to ensure the safety of the children and their environment.

34. Thank You!