PEACE MONITOR

AN ISSUE DIGEST OF THE POLICY GROUP

November 2015

Volume II, Issue No. 5

Basic Rights in Crosscutting Themes: Children in Armed Conflict

Republic Act 7610 (RA 7610) defines children as
Persons below 18 years of age, or those over but are
unable to fully protect themselves from abuse, neglect,
cruelty, exploitation or discrimination because of
physical or mental disability or condition. In other
literature, children are categorized under Most
Vulnerable Groups (MVGs) in armed conflict.

of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, of its civilian

units or other armed groups, nor be allowed to take
part in fighting, or used as guides, couriers or spies.
Delivery of basic services such as education,
primary health and emergency relief services, shall
be kept unhampered.

Children Involved in Armed Conflict

EO 138 forms the Inter-Agency Committee on Children

in Armed Conflict (IAC-CIAC) whose functions include:
There are cases where children are directly involved in (The latest draft IRR of EO 138 designated OPAPP as
armed conflict. There are numerous instances where committee Vice Chair).
they have been killed, wounded or captured. Most of the
time, however, they are used in non-combat rolesas
Ensure that international instruments such as the
couriers, spies, cooks, etc. Most often, they are
UN CRC, the Optional Protocol on the Involvement
recruited by groups involved in uprisings against the
of Children in Armed Conflict and other related
state, largely as force multipliers but equally significant
human rights treaties are considered in all actions
because of their non-prosecution status in the eyes of
taken.
the law.
Formulate guidelines and develop programs for the
Children in Situations of Armed Conflict (CSAC)
handling of children in armed conflict and monitor/
document cases of capture, surrender, arrest,
In situations of armed conflict, children comprise the
rescue, or recovery by government forces.
majority of uninvolved victims. Most visibly they make
up the bulk of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in
Conduct human rights training, advocacy, and
evacuation centers. In these centers, they often lack
information campaigns and capability building of
access to proper health care and facilities for proper
LGUs.
hygiene. In these situations they also fall prey to sexual
abuse.
Implement a monitoring, reporting, and response
system (MRRS) for grave child rights violations in
Away from the makeshift shelters, their schools are
situations of armed conflict.
often the evacuation centers; hence, their education is
disrupted. Displacement, loss of family, and direct OPAPP has been actively involved in most of these
encounters with extreme violence often lead to activities. Furthermore,
materials being crafted by
psychological trauma. Displaced indigenous children OPAPP provide for the protection of rights and the
may suffer the loss of ancestral domain and indigenous promotion of interests of children and other MVG in both
culture very early in their lives.
armed conflict situations and post-conflict as a major
factor to be considered conflict-sensitive and peaceLaws Protecting Children
promoting (CSPP).
RA 7610, Article X, Sec. 22 declares children as Zones As stated in the definition, children are unable to fully
of Peace. As such:
protect themselves from abuse, exploitation, and
discrimination. There are bills pending in the legislature
Children shall not be the object of attack and shall on children in armed conflict. A primary proposed
be entitled to special respect. They shall be provision is to designate children as victims of armed
protected from any form of threat, assault, torture, or conflict, regardless of their participation. Hence they, by
other cruel, inhumane, or degrading treatment.
law and by the norms of humanity, should be treated
with respect and dignity.
Children shall not be recruited to become members

For comments & suggestions, you may e-mail peace.monitor.opapp@gmail.com