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The Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines expresses deep alarm on the toll armed conflict has inflicted our children. The children’s right to life and survival, their right to development, their right to an education and their right to be with their families are but some of the rights that are disrupted and even violated in situations of armed conflict.
Children are affected by armed conflict in many ways from the deprivation of their immediate needs to the psychological trauma brought on by war. The Commission, in accordance with its mandate, has continuously monitored the rights, interests and status of children in situations of armed conflict. The Commission regularly sends human rights monitors to these evacuation centers either as a stand-alone institution or as part of a multi-organization rapid assessment team. The lingering observation is that national and institutional frameworks in place sadly do not provide children sufficient protection from the effects of war.
One of the most palpable image of child rights violations may be seen in the state of evacuation centers that are in place. Deplorable and sub-human conditions confront these children and their families when they are forced to stay in evacuation centers on account of armed conflict. Cramped living spaces, cold cemented floors, limited supply of water for bathing, washing and drinking, lack or absence of latrines, conscripted access to nutritional food, lack of medicines and clothes is the reality for the “batang-bakwit.” Access to education is also affected given that most often than not, it is the public schools that serve as evacuation centers for the displaced families. These displaced are often repository only of immediate food or non-food items that focuses sharply only on their survival. They have limited access, however, to medical missions and more importantly, to psycho-social interventions to address the debilitating trauma of war for children.
These evacuation centers, while it may serve as temporary shelters, can potentially give more harm than good to children. In other countries, for instance, there have been reports of gender-based violence in evacuation camps. Evacuation centers, therefore, should never replace the home-setting where a child can enjoy privacy, the basic amenities of home and the security of their persons. It is therefore imperative for both the Government and Non-State Actors to resolve all armed conflicts with much haste and decisiveness and to instead commit to the use of peaceful dialogues in addressing ideological differences. If a protracted war cannot be avoided and the return to their homes of origin an impossibility, these displaced families and children must be properly relocated.
One of the most harrowing vestiges of any war is the involvement of children as soldiers. The Commission on Human Rights has received reports from the media and other partners in the civil society that Non-State Armed Groups, like the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, have resorted to the use of children, individuals below eighteen years of age, as soldiers. The Commission condemns the use of children as soldiers by any armed groups. Whether the recruitment be voluntary, by undue influence, by reasons of revenge and especially if done so by force, the use of children to carry arms is a violation of the right of the child to be free from harm from abuse and exploitation and from forced labor.
Recruitment of children in armed groups is one of the six grave child rights violations identified by the Untied Nations’ Security Council. The other grave rights violations in situations of armed conflict are: killing and maiming, abduction, rape and other forms of sexual violence, attacks on schools and hospitals and denial of humanitarian access.
In the Report of the Secretary General on Children and Armed Conflict in the Philippines, it notes that the recruitment of children is gapingly absent in any peace negotiations or processes. This may be a “controversial and sensitive issue” for the Non-State Armed Groups, however, such an abominable practice must be put to stop. Security measures must be in place to free children from violence and exploitation. An indicator of good faith from any side of the negotiating panel should be the inclusion of this item, the recruitment of children in armed ranks, in the peace agenda.
The Commission calls on the leadership of all Non-State Armed Groups to cease and desist from the practice or tolerance of recruiting children in the active ranks or in the auxiliary services. Your children’s place should never be in the trenches of war-ridden fields but in schools where they can develop and actualize as complete individuals living lives with dignity and humanity.
The Commission calls on the Government of the Philippines to:
Children are the vassals of our future. The way to peace necessarily includes them. Afford the children a central place in all decisions and politics that necessarily affect their well-being. Their involvement must not be in the armed ranks nor in the auxiliary services. Do not arm them with guns but protect them from it. In the best interest of all our children, insulate them from the harrowing effects of armed conflict and displacement. Let the Government and Non-State Armed Groups respect and operationalize through practice the affirmation that our children are zones of peace. No harm should come upon them.
The taking of lives of children is not justified, even if these children were recruited by armed rebel groups. That makes children double victims.
Dead children, especially civilian children such as those killed in the 8 September 2008 incident in Datu Piang, Maguindanao, as a “collateral damage” is unacceptable. Collateral damage should be avoided in all strategic planning for combat. The Commission, through its Region 12 sub-office, is currently conducting a follow-up, deeper probe into the Datu Piang incident with the view of determining the accountability for the death of the five (5) innocent children, including a 17- year old pregnant minor.
Still on the reported recruitment by the MILF of child warriors, and in relation to the video footage aired yesterday, September 12, over ABS-CBN/ANC, we reiterate our challenge to the MILF leadership to cooperate and allow a CHR special team to access and inspect MILF training camps for the purpose of verifying the veracity of AFP’s claim of MILF’s training and use of minors as combatants.
Issued on 13 September 2008 at Quezon City, Philippines.
For the Commission:
LEILA M. DE LIMA
Chairperson