“CHILDREN must be protected anywhere and all the time”- thus said by Akap Bata Philippines, a non-profit and a child welfare group in a launching of BATINGAW Youth Network against violence and abuse on children.
The growing number of cases engaging children in violence and abuses are the main reason in forming this network. One of those recent cases was the case of a child witness in an alleged murder of a Mayor in Pangasinan and the suicide case of an UP- Manila student named Kristel Tejada. They were just some in 40 million children whom are subjected in all forms and abuse such as harassment and bullying worldwide.
Also, poverty and severe malnutrition are the main problems of our children. Study shows that 14.1 percent among infants 0-5 months old and 16.2 percent among infants aged 6-11 months old and an increase in number of underweight children aged 0-5 years increased from 24.6 percent to 26.2 percent, about 3.35 million children. “These data shows that Filipino children are deprived of their basic rights not only in education but also of their economic and political rights,“ said Rev. Ruel D. Garcia- Executive Director Akap Bata Philippines.
It is indeed the time to form a Network that will campaign to protect our children from social violence in all forms and in anytime. Batingaw Youth Network was first formed for the campaign of Anti-Child Pornography, and today it is already an act that will prohibit children to be part of any pornographic materials and publication. Through its victory, Akap Bata decided to form the network again to raise awareness in the worsening situation of our children’s social protection.
Also, through the network, we demand that the present administration should immediately act on this situation and ensure the protection of our future generation.
Poverty, hunger and illiteracy in our nation show that this society inflicts violence on our children. “If we do not act today to change the present condition of our children, we are facing a future generation of violence in a poor, malnourished and illiterate nation” Rev. Garcia said.