MSSD Minister Atty. Raissa Jajurie leads the Bangsamoro Children’s Summit on November 16, 2024 at Shariff Kabunsuan Cultural Complex BGC Cotabato City (Photo courtesy of MSSD)
COTABATO CITY—A safe and fear-free future for the Bangsamoro children remains a top priority for the Bangsamoro government, which pledged to intensify efforts to protect children from violence and ensure their well-being during the Children’s Month celebration on Nov. 16, at the Shariff Kabunsuan Cultural Complex (SKCC) here.
With the theme, “Break the Prevalence, End the Violence: Protecting Children, Creating a Safe Bangsamoro,”BARMM Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim emphasized the timeliness of holding said event.
“It directly addresses the alarming incidence of violence against children that our region continues to confront,” he said.
On the same day, the Regional Plan of Action for Children (RPAC) for 2024-2028 was launched, aimed at creating a safer environment.
“Children are our nation’s most precious assets. Today’s celebration reaffirms our commitment to their well-being in alignment with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child,” Ebrahim added.
He acknowledged the challenges children in BARMM face due to decades of conflict, stressing the need for urgent measures to protect their rights and welfare.
“We must also acknowledge the significant challenges faced by children in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region. Decades of conflict and instability have negatively impacted their lives, and we still grapple with ongoing child protection issues and violence, which emphasizes the urgent need for effective measures to safeguard their rights and well-being,” he stressed.
MSSD Minister Atty. Raissa Jajurie highlighted the importance of the event, noting the Philippines’ commitment as a signatory to the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC).
“For instance, under the right to survival, we ensure children’s lives are protected. Governments must guarantee their healthy development,” Atty. Jajurie said.
She added, “Children must be protected against various forms of violence, including physical, mental, and sexual abuse, trafficking, and kidnapping.”
The minister further emphasized the right to education, encouraging the protection of children’s right to learn, saying “Children have right to make decision and to be heard against things that affect them.” (Majid Nur/BIO)
