Strong family is important in child protection - DSWD
Davao City (28 June) -- "The most important response in child protection is a strong family which is our first line of defense in the protection and safety of our children," Social Welfare and Development Secretary Esperanza I. Cabral underscored during the recent launching of the Comprehensive Program for Child Protection (CPCP) in Camp Crame.
The launching was led by the Special Committee for the Protection of Children chaired by the Department of Justice (DOJ) with DSWD as co-chair.
Secretary Cabral said that parents should exert effort to ensure a harmonious family environment and be part of the value formation of children.
"This way, child protection becomes a part of our consciousness and is a responsibility not just of the government, NGOs and Church groups but of every Filipino as well," Secretary Cabral continued.
Secretary Cabral stated that the launching of the CPCP hopes to raise the country's level of compliance to the United Nations Conventions on the Rights of the Children which requires member-countries to take appropriate measures to protect a child from all forms of abuse and exploitation.
"The CPCP aims to put in place a protective and caring environment by 2010 where all identified children in need of special protection are provided with appropriate interventions," Secretary Cabral highlighted.
The Department continues to implement child protection through its centers and institutions as well as in communities.
The Department maintains 24-hour centers nationwide that provide residential care services for children-victims of abuse. Services provided to children in these centers include treatment, recovery and rehabilitation implemented by social workers, psychologists, house-parents and vocational instructors.
The DSWD also implements a Parent Effectiveness Service which provides knowledge and skills in parenting, early childhood development as well as husband-wife relationship, prevention of child abuse and health care.
"The family is involved as a partner in the healing and recovery of abused and exploited children since the aim of DSWD's recovery and integration programs is to reunite the children with their families," Secretary Cabral emphasized.
Secretary Cabral lamented that many children are subjected to violence and other forms of abuse. She reported that for the first quarter of 2007, the DSWD has served 2,910 Children in Need of Special Protection. These children were provided with temporary shelter, group counseling, theatre or play therapy, leadership training, socio-cultural activities and creative art sessions to help them recover from their trauma. (DSWD/SMS-PIA XI) [top]
