Philippine Children’s Ministries Network

Network Advocacy Initiative

As a network, one of our goals is to be a strong voice articulating the biblical perspective on children’s issues and concerns (advocacy role) and catalyst for genuine collaboration on children at risk in the Philippines. To fulfill this goal, the following strategies have been pursued:

• Advocacy – initiatives to raise awareness of Christians and the general public on the various issues and concerns affecting children.
• Capacity building through training seminars and workshops, people care among others.
• Resource Materials Development – to date, PCMN in partnership with members and partners have facilitated the writing and publication of flip chart

on Child Trafficking Prevention (Pilipino and Cebuano), Awareness on Disaster Risk Reduction and Management and Child Protection in Emergencies (English and Pilipino), Life Skills Children’s Handbook (Pilipino).

Child Domestic Labor – 2002 up to the present
PCMN started advocacy work in 2002 when the Quezon City Cluster composed of member-organizations based in Quezon City agreed to focus on a specific issue to address, Child Domestic Labor. With funding support from World Vision Development Foundation and UNICEF, the group conducted a research study on “Incidence and Conditions of Child Domestic Workers in Quezon City”. With the completion of the study, a series of awareness raising sessions were conducted for local churches in Quezon City. Several groups started to gather around the issue and sought ways to help child domestic workers in their areas. In 2009, these churches registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an issue-based network called Rhoda Ministries Network Inc (RMNI). PCMN continues to provide guidance and assistance to RMNI, which is currently working as a partner of the Visayan Forum Foundation.

Child Trafficking – 2005 up to the present
In 2004, several member-organizations started discussion on the issue of child trafficking. These Manila- based groups agreed to open their centers and houses to provide temporary care for rescued children-victims of trafficking. A series of training were held to enhance the capacity of workers to provide care to trafficked children. A teaching tool, the flipchart on Trafficking, was developed and produced for distribution. With grants from funding partners, the network was able to conduct training for facilitators in Davao, General Santos City, Bacolod, Antique, Metro Manila and the 3 provinces in the island of Samar. The Holistic Multi-Sectoral Response to Child Trafficking Prevention was launched in Samar in 2006. The project is an advocacy initiative that aimed to raise awareness on the issue of trafficking in various communities in Samar through the pastors and church leaders who have been trained. Over a hundred churches participated in the project and in the first 3 years of involvement, they were able to do community education sessions reaching some 50,000 people. The churches have become local networks for child protection in Northern, Western and Eastern Samar.

Child Protection in Emergencies – 2009 up to the present
When Metro Manila and a large part of Luzon experienced typhoon Ondoy in September 2009 resulting in great devastation, we saw how inadequate the population in general is able to respond to natural calamities. The fact that the children are among the most vulnerable in such a situation, PCMN, after several months of relief work pursued a special project, “Equipping Faith-Based Groups in Vulnerable Communities on Disaster Risk Reduction and Protection of Children.” 25 local churches and 5 Christian NGOs committed to be part of the 18-month project that started in April 2010. The project through its various inputs aimed to form functional advocacy and resource groups composed of pastors, ministry workers and lay persons in vulnerable communities that will focus on child protection, disaster risk reduction and management. The three working groups are now discussing the next steps they will take to ensure that the gains from the project will be nurtured and sustained. Some of the churches have broadened their engagement to other child protection issues.

Violence Against Children – started 2011
In the beginning of 2011, the network facilitated the formation of an Advocacy working group and recruited a facilitator for an 18-month Advocacy Project on Violence Against Children, focusing on the 3 specific issues of Corporal Punishment, Child Sexual Abuse and Child Pornography/Online Safety/ Prevention of Cybercrimes among children. The main objective of the project is to help address root causes of discrimination and abuse of children, particularly child sexual abuse, child pornography and corporal punishment in local communities through specific advocacy initiatives.

Training on Advocacy was conducted in January for representatives of different groups. The working group attended a half-day orientation on different Anti-Child Abuse Laws in March by Atty. Patty Arroyo of Ateneo University College of Law. Learning sessions on Corporal Punishment vis-à-vis Positive Discipline, Child Sexual Abuse, Child Pornography/Online Safety and Cybercrimes Prevention held in February, April and July have been well-attended. Towards the end of August the different groups that committed to be part of the initiative will send their child-leaders who will attend a 3-day training to become child advocates. The project through the working groups and Project Facilitator will develop and reproduce an advocacy toolkit for each of the issues that will be made available for other groups.

Ten organizations comprise the working group – Onesimo Bulilit – convenor, Scandinavian Children’s Mission , Christian Compassion Ministries, Jigsaw Kids Ministry, Food for the Hungry, SPECS Foundation, Ang Mananampalatayang Gumagawa, World Vision Development Foundation, Ang Bahay Parola-Mission to the World, Kanlungan sa Erma. In addition, 9 other NGOs and churches have committed to be part of the project. PCMN is also developing a partnership with the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group(PNP-CIDG) through its recently launched Project Angel Net. It is a a 24/7 operation center and website that will serve as the take-off point to level up the PNP’s capability in fighting cybercrimes and protecting children from internet pornography and other abuses.

On August 27-29, the Advocacy Training for children ages 14-17 was held in Camp Jabez. Some 150 children from 17 organizations and churches participated. The children were divided into 3 groups focused on the chosen issues. They learned the basic information about the issue and were given opportunity of exploring ways to share the issue to their peers in a creative way with some guidance from the adult staff. Each group formulated their work plan at the end of the training. Aside from learning, the children had some free moments of getting to know the other participants. The working group in cooperation with the different groups will be conducting follow-up activities to help the child advocates enhanced their skill. Work on the advocacy toolkit will likewise be given full attention.