Uniting to protect children

The University of the Philippines Cebu Gender and Development Office received an invitation from Lihok Filipina Foundation Executive Director Teresa Banaynal-Fernandez to join the  two-day organization of a Community Based Advocacy and Monitoring Group. The initiating group wanted to realize the “Strengthening of Civil Society in Eliminating Violence Against Children in the Philippines.”

The lead facilitators were Mr. Michael Cornelia of Plan International and Banaynal-Fernandez and Genevieve Makinano of Lihok Filipina. Schools represented were UP and the University of San Carlos. The Department of Social Welfare and Development and Department of  Education also had attendees; representatives from barangays like Luz, Tinago and Guadalupe also came. But most of those who came were from nongovernment organizations: Visayan Forum, Kauswagan, Kaabag sa Kalambuan, Bantay Banat Youth, Bantay Banay. Participation was multicultural, representatives from Madrasah and Bajao Multicultural Community came. Sidlak Gender Resource Center was represented by Dr. Rhodora Masilang-Bucoy.

Because Banaynal-Fernandez believed that the plans and organization should be anchored on the aspirations of the participants, the participants were invited to express their aspirations regarding the self, the family and the community.

After the sharing, she reminded those in attendance that children are valuable, have worth and are unique persons.

A very important activity was the workshop on experiences of violence as children. The participants were asked to recall these and what they thought and felt. They were also told to tell their group how these affected them. The range of violence really shocked me; several were scolded in public; one was blamed for doing something of which the person was innocent; several were whipped with a belt, a horse whip and broom; some were asked to kneel for 30 minutes on salt or mongo beans; one was imprisoned in a pig pen; others were sent out of the house; one was hung with feet tied and head down; one was prevented from going to school; one was forced to marry at the age of 15; one was molested by an uncle.

Most were very much angered by their experience. Many became fearful. They felt very humiliated and worthless. One declared that the parent did not love her. Others asked: Why is this happening to me?

So some of the victims of abuse actually left home. Others became silent. Others avoided those who had hurt them. One went to an uncle for protection.

Violence is at times inflicted to discipline and to prevent negative behavior. But very few mentioned changes for the better. One was challenged to work hard in school. But there were many harmful effects on victims: lower self-esteem, emotional scars and  easy provocation to anger. Some victims aalso maltreated children, repeating the cycle. Others became rebellious.

In trying to picture the situation of children, the beginning of a shift has been observed. The young now have greater freedom of expression. Parents are starting to be aware of children’s rights and gender sensitivity. More and more, the youth are involved in community problem solving and decision making. Are they becoming spoiled and disrespectful?

What are the issues affecting children? First,  poverty that affects all aspects of their lives. Then there is failure to  protect them  from abuse. And there is the issue of providing them with  opportunities to  develop all their potentials. Finally the young are subjected to various ways of manipulation and rejection.

After all these, the group planned the activities that would lead to a more “humane society” of supportive families and  individuals who are healthy, happy, wholesome and responsible.

Some of the activities planned were: awareness raising, team building, summer camps and  values clarification sessions.

UP Cebu GAD office and Sidlak will be involved in the Community-Based Monitoring Group in its “Anti-Corporal Punishment” project. We are opposed to subjecting persons but most especially the young to any form of violence. We are committed to cutting the cycle of violence as early as possible. We are convinced together with Banaynal-Fernandez of how precious our children are.  They remind me of what Joan Baez described in Daybreak: “special, miraculous, unrepeatable, fragile, fearful, tender, lost, sparkling ruby, emerald jewel, rainbow splendor person.”

We are grateful to Plan International for providing the office with the report on the two-day activity.