Agri dept supports children’s month celebration

 

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — The Department of Agriculture – Northern Mindanao (DA-10), through its Women Employees’ Association (DAWEA) and in collaboration with the Gender and Development program, supported the observance of the 32nd National Children’s Month (NCM) on November 29, here.

Bearing this year’s theme: “Break the Prevalence, End the Violence: Protecting Children, Creating a Safe Philippines”, the activity focused on a talk on Children’s Rights, which stressed the need to safeguard and fulfill children’s rights to survival, protection, development, and participation in the choices and decisions concerning and impacting children.

Speaking before a crowd of 80, comprising of children together with their parents and guardians from DA-10, and members and officers of DAWEA-10, Atty. Rachel L. Borres-Thurdis, DAWEA-10 chairperson said that a child’s right refers to a set of legally binding norms and standards for care and protection of child that can be applied to all children at all situations.

She imparted that children’s rights has evolved, as it has largely been influenced by philosophers, especially in areas like early education, socialization, and meeting children’s age-appropriate needs that differ over time.

Essentially, Atty. Borres-Thurdis highlighted on how to engage both duty-bearers, either parents or guardians, and children in nurturing a safer, healthier, and more inclusive environment, sharing the four core children’s rights as espoused in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UN-CRC) — survival rights (right to life and most basic needs for existence), protection rights (protection from all forms of abuse, neglect and exploitation, and rehabilitation), development rights (right to education, play, and leisure), and participation rights (right to express opinion).

Recognizing the range of child rights relating from family, health, education, identity, privacy, among others, the DAWEA chairperson urged for parents and guardians to prioritize what is best for their child, including their role to discipline their children for the formation of their good character.

“Child rights are essential for creating a more equitable and just society, where all individuals are valued and respected, regardless of their background or circumstances.” she furthered.

As provided in Republic Act No. 10661, the NCM in the Philippines is yearly observed every November, coinciding with the adoption of the UN-CRC on November 20, 1989, to uphold the promotion and protection of children’s rights and welfare.#