The CRC Coalition conducted a writeshop on the NGO Alternative Report last April 19, a jump off from the consultations with CSOs and children in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
The participants were able to review the first draft of the NGO Alternative Report, the accuracy of its data, possible emerging issues, focus of analysis, and also provide concrete recommendations on the issues of children.
Melanie Ramos-Llana, representative of Institute on Church and Socials Issues provided an introduction on the NGO Alternative Report which is a supplementary document containing feedback as a response to the Government’s State Party Report on the implementation of children’s rights in the country.
“Independent HR Institutes will also submit its own report/written document. These write-ups shall be submitted to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child after which, a pre-session working group with NGOs and NHRIs will take place. Plenary sessions with Philippine government representatives will take place to finalize concluding observations which are to be validated and reviewed by independent HR Institutes. The findings will further be disseminated to the members of the CRC, stakeholders, partners, children, and to the general public,” Ramos-Llana said.
Based on the consultation conducted with children and CSOs, the CRC Coalition was able to prioritize issues per thematic cluster. For the (1) General Measures of Implementation; the focus is on public investment in children, for (2) Civil Rights and Freedom; Child Participation and Civil Registration and Vital Statistics, for (3) Basic Health and Welfare; children with disabilities, mental health, teenage pregnancy and HIV/AIDS which is under adolescent reproductive health, for (4) Family Environment and Alternative Care; migration and effects on children, institutionalization of children, for (5) Education, Leisure and Activities; access and quality of education and dropout rate, and lastly for (6) Special Protection; children in armed conflict, corporal punishment, sexual exploitation, juvenile justice/MACR/anti-drug campaign, child labor, and children in street situations.
Many of the participants raised issues that are needed to be reflected in the Alternative Report, triggering debates on the situation of children’s rights in the country. Each of the thematic clusters style of analysis was commended and acknowledged by the CRC Coalition to further improve the report.
The CRC Coalition would like to acknowledge the members and partners present in Expanding Sapces: Writeshop on NGO Alternative Report that shared their expertise to make the report genuinely reflective of children’s situation in the country.
ASMAE | Ateneo Human Rights Center | Bahay Tuluyan | CAMELEON Assocation | Center for Health and Innovations Solutions | ECPAT Philippines | Education Network | EDUCO Philippines | ERDA | Institute on Church and Social Issues | Kindernothillfe Ev. | Mindanao Action Group on Children’s Rights and Protection | NORFIL Foundation | Philippine Coalition on Persons with Disabilities | Save the Children | Social Watch | Unang Hakbang Foundation | VIDES | WomanHealth | World Vision | Zone-One Tondo Organization