CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY
Statement delivered by
H.E. LIBRAN N. CABACTULAN
Permanent Representative
Permanent Mission of the Philippines to the United Nations
During the Interactive Panel Discussion on the occasion of the
25th Anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
69th Session of the United Nations General Assembly
Trusteeship Council Chamber
UN Headquarters, New York, 20 November 2014
Your Majesty Queen Silvia and Co-Chair Mme Laura Varagas Carillo,
We thank you and our panelists for this timely discussion on the question of whether, 25 years later, the world is a better place for children.
We celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child with both joy and apprehension: joy because of the landmark progress it has brought forth for children and apprehension because of the polarized debate yesterday – the eve of the anniversary of the Convention -- on the annual resolution on the rights of the child.
The debate yesterday was perhaps indicative of the status of the Convention. With 194 ratifications, it is hailed as the most widely-ratified Convention in the UN system. Such wide ratification is also pointed out as proof of its universal acceptance. Yet, 74 of these ratifications also contain declarations and reservations, quite a number of which may have the effect of nullifying the rights accorded to children by the Convention, especially in challenged situations in some parts of the world.
As we reflect on whether the world is now a better place for children, it is high time that these countries review and rethink their declarations and reservations, so that the four (4) guiding principles of the Convention -- non-discrimination, best interest of the child, survival and development, and respect for the views of the child – are truly implemented.
For the Philippines, our ratification of the Convention offered a fresh framework on how to work for our children and with our children. It challenged us to identify gaps and challenges to ensure that every right of the Filipino child is respected, protected and fulfilled. It gave us a better understanding of the situation of children, leading the government to reconsider its approaches in the areas of governance and accountability. It pushed us to review policy and harmonize national legislation with the Convention’s provisions on the protection of children. It led us to develop a National Strategic Framework Plan for Development for Children, whose goal is to build a child-sensitive and child-friendly society.
Admittedly, challenges remain for us in the full implementation of the Convention and in the protection of and promotion of the rights of Filipino children, who constitute almost half of our 90-million population. Along with the question of resources is the emergence of new challenges, particularly the increasing frequency of large scale, devastating, natural disasters.
The worst of these disasters so far was Typhoon Haiyan, whose 1st year anniversary we marked last November 8. Haiyan negated economic gains achieved, pushed back development and affected 5.9 million children, depriving them not just of food, shelter, clothing and family, but also of education and security as their lives, home, schools, neighborhoods were torn away from them. It is in this light that our President has singled out universal health care and education as priority programs for our children.
It is also in this light that we welcome the 2015 edition of The State of the World’s Children, which calls for brave and fresh thinking to address age-old problems that still affect the world’s most disadvantaged children.
Thank you.