Mister President,

The Philippines thanks the delegation of the Republic of Korea for organizing this very important debate. We also thank H.E. Ban Ki-Moon, Special Representative Virginia Gamba, UNICEF Executive Director Ted Chaiban and other briefers for their presentations.

We welcome the focus of this debate. Advancing our Collective Norms Towards Protecting Children and Ending All Grave Violations is aligned with the priorities of my delegation on the Rights of Children agenda.

Children have the right to a safe, healthy and carefree childhood. They do not belong in the battlefield and they have the right not to know the horrors of war. Armed conflict, of which children have no say in, deprives them of their rights to be  children. Armed conflict endangers children’s lives or deprives them of access to education and health in cases of attacks on schools and hospitals. Disrupted access to education and health services because of armed conflict had long-term consequences on the physical and mental well-being of children and hamper their development.

The Philippines is committed to protect children and fulfill its obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child. We stand for peace and the peaceful settlement of disputes and call on parties to conflict to establish enduring ceasefire.  We also call for safe, timely and unimpeded humanitarian access to save and protect children.

Mister President,

The Philippines appreciates the engagement of Special Representative Virginia Gamba and we are committed to work with her in addressing grave violations against children. We note the reported substantial decrease in grave violations against children in my country, which were mostly committed by rebels and terrorist groups.   

Led by the Council for the Welfare of Children, the Philippines utilizes a whole-of-government approach in addressing grave violations committed against children. The Government is committed to implement the Children in Situations of Armed Conflict Law across all sectors of society. Civil society organizations, NGOs and indigenous communities have a meaningful role to play in raising awareness on child protection issues, particularly in preventing the recruitment of child combatants.

The Philippine armed forces and police authorities have adopted child protection policies and have finalized the protocols on handling children in situations of armed conflict. Capacity-building for government and non-government partners have also been initiated to enhance prevention of attacks against schools. The Government trained more than 3,000 child protection actors on the Children in Situations of Armed Conflict Law and its implementation.

We note the recommendation of SRSG Gamba on the establishment of reintegration programs. This is already done by the Department of Social Welfare and Development and will be scaled up, consistent with the principle that we wish for everyone in the Philippines to internalize - that children are zones of peace. Children embody the most compelling justification for the existence of States – to protect its most vulnerable charges as it would preserve itself. A state without children is a state on the brink of extinction.

I thank the President for this opportunity to speak and assure the Council of my delegation’s support on all efforts on child rights and protection.