CRC Coalition and Bahay Tuluyan conducted a Learning Session on United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child’s General Comment on Children in Street Situations (GC 21).
The General Comment provides authoritative guidance to States on developing comprehensive, long-term national strategies on children in street situations using a holistic, child rights approach and addressing both prevention and response in line with the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
This activity is part of CRC Coalition’s effort to have a deeper understanding of the UN CRC and its implementation. The participants looked into its salient features in comparison to what is the situation of children in the streets, existing services from both government and CSOs, possible gaps in program implementation, emerging issues, and specific recommendations.
When children was consulted during the drafting of the General Comment, they spoke strongly about the need for respect, dignity, and rights. In expressing their views, the children said: “Respect us as human beings”; “I want to become someone who can fend for myself”; and “Give us the opportunity to change our story”.
CRC Coalition and Bahay Tuluyan would like to acknowledge the members and partners who actively participated in the Learning Session: General Comment 21 last June 7, 2018.
Association Sœur Emmanuelle | ChildHope | Child Rights Coalition Asia | Children’s Legal Rights and Development Center | Commission on Human Rights – Child Rights Center | Education Research and Development Assistance | Institute on Church and Social Issues | Kuya Center for Street Children | Unang Hakbang Foundation | VIDES Philippines Volunteers Foundation