The Convention on

the Rights of the

Child
 The Convention on
the Rights of the
Child

A universal legal document that reflects a new

vision of the child:

 Children are human beings , and

 Not the property of their parents.
 They are subjects of their own rights, and
 Not objects of charity.
 The Convention on
the Rights of the
Child

Affirms the basic principles of human

rights:

 Universality
 Inalienability
 Indivisibility
 Interconnectedness
 A LITTLE
HISTORY

Drafted over the course of The most universally

10 years (1979-1989) with accepted human rights
inputs from various instrument in history
societies, religions &
cultures Ratified by 193 UN
member-countries; 140
Adopted by the UN signatories
General Assembly on 20
November 1989
The Convention grants children
the same rights as every other
person:
Cultural
Rights
Civil Rights

Political
Rights

Economic Rights Social Rights

The Convention on the Rights of the Child

Reinforces fundamental human

dignity
Highlights and defends the
family’s role in children’s lives
Seeks respects for children-but
not at the expense of the HR or
responsibilities of others
Endorses the principle of non-
discrimination
Establishes clear obligations
The Convention on the Rights of the Child

• The United Nations Convention on the

Rights of the Child (CRC) provides a
comprehensive code of civil, political,
economic, social and cultural rights
that offer the highest standards of
protection and assistance for children.

• It applies to all children at all times,

including during emergencies and war.
The Convention on the Rights of the Child

• Article 38 calls upon States to

respect the rules of international
humanitarian law and ensure
protection and care for children affected
by armed conflict.

• Article 19 accords the child the right to

be protected from abuse and neglect,
without discrimination.
 Foundation
Foundation Principles
Principles of
of CRC
CRC

 Survival & development, Article

6
 Non-discrimination, Article 2
 Best interest of the child, Article
3
 Views of the child, Article 12
 Survival and development
 Addresses issue of accessibility

 Seeks to guarantee right to

basic services

 Promotes equity of opportunity

for all children to achieve full
development
 Non-discrimination

All children have the same

right to develop their
potential
No distinction, restriction
and exclusion of any child
Data disaggregation
essential for achieving
universality of interventions
Best interest of the child

 Supports a child-centered
approach
 Serves as mediating principle
 Provides basis for applying
and evaluating laws and
practices
 Views of the Child

 right to be heard in judicial or

administrative proceedings

 duty of everyone to give due

weight to views of the child

 due consideration of the

evolving capacity, e.g. age and
maturity of the child
 A child has the right to -
· Be born. To have a name and nationality
· Have a family who loves and cares
· Live in a peaceful and wholesome
community
· Have adequate food and a healthy and
active body
· Obtain a good education and develop full
potential
 A child has the right to -

· Be able to play
· Be protected against abuse, exploitation,
neglect, violence & danger
· Be defended and given assistance by
government
· Express his/her views
 CATEGORIES
CATEGORIES OF
OF RIGHTS
RIGHTS

Development
Survival

Protection Participation
 CATEGORIES
CATEGORIES OF
OF RIGHTS
RIGHTS

Implies providing adequate:

 Food;
 Shelter;
Survival  Clean water;
 Primary health care; and
 A safe environment.
 CATEGORIES
CATEGORIES OF
OF RIGHTS
RIGHTS

Implies supporting children’s

normal physical, emotional, and
psychological development thru:
Development
 Formal education;
 Constructive play;
 Health care; and
 A caring & nurturing environment.
CATEGORIES
CATEGORIES OF
OF RIGHTS
RIGHTS

Implies protecting children from:

 Abuse;
 Neglect;
 Exploitation (labor,
sexual, trafficking)
 War; and
Protection  Drugs.
 CATEGORIES
CATEGORIES OF
OF RIGHTS
RIGHTS

Implies supporting meaningful

involvement of children in all
levels of decision-making and
having input and access to
information in different
aspects of their life:
Participation
What does it mean for a
Country to ratify the
Convention?

The Convention on
the Rights of the
Child
 T S & C H A L L E N G ES
COM M I TM E N
 Making children live longer and live well;
 Enacting child-friendly laws;
 Developing rights-based programmes;
 Mobilizing resources for children;
 Building child friendly institutions; and
 Popularizing CRC
 Optional Protocol to the CRC on the
Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict

• Raises the age of recruitment of persons

into armed groups from 15 to 18 years
of age.
• Prohibits armed groups from recruiting
children into their ranks
• Provides assistance for their physical
recovery and social reintegration.
• Entered into force on 12 February 2002,
125 countries signed it, 132 ratified it
 Optional Protocol to CRC on the Sale of
Children, Child Prostitution & Child
Pornography
• Calls upon the State Parties
to penalize the sale of
children, child prostitution
and child pornography
under its national laws.
• 117 have signed and 137
have ratified it.
• Entered into force 18
January 2002.
Laws enacted to promote and protect the rights of
Filipino Children
Philippine Legal Instruments Description

1. Article 340 of the • prostitution of a minor

Revised Penal Code of the
Philippines
• establishing the Social
2.EO Development Fund for Children

3. RA 9344 • Juvenile Justice Act

4. RA 9208 • Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act

5. RA 7558 • Child Labor

6. PD 603 • The Child and Youth Welfare Code

7. EO 56 • authorizing the DSWD to take protective

custody of child prostitutes and sexually
exploited children
Philippine Legal Description
Instruments

8. RA 9231 • Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labor Act Child

Protection Act of 1992.

9. RA 7610 • Special Protection of Children against Child Abuse,

Exploitation and Discrimination, including prostitution
• Two amendments

• An Act Prohibiting the Employment of Children Below 15

10. RA 7658
Years. The law has taken into consideration the provisions and
standards of ILO Convention No. 182.

11. RA 9255 • An Act Allowing Illegitimate Children to Use the Surname of

their Father

12. RA 9262 • Anti-Violence against Women and their Children Act of 2004.

13. RA 9288 • the Newborn Screening Act of 2004.

 Philippine Description
Legal
Instruments

14. EO 275 • creation of a committee for the special protection of children from
all forms of neglect, abuse, cruelty, exploitation, discrimination
headed by DOJ

• Barangay Level Total Development and Protection of Children Act

15. RA 6972
establishing day carecenters in every barangay
16. RA 7160
• The Local Government Code of 1991

17. RA 8043
• Inter-Country Adoption Act of 1995 protecting children from being
adopted by foreigners for commercial sexual exploitation

18. RA 8369 • Family Courts Act of 1997 Domestic

19. RA 8552 • Adoption Act of 1998

 Philippine Legal Description
Instruments

20. RA 8371 • Indigenous Peoples Act, 1997

21. RA 8185, • amending Sec.324 (d) of the LGC on the use of the 5% of
series of 1996 the estimated revenue of the IRA as Calamity Fund
Annual General Appropriations Act (GAA) on “Gender
and Development”
22. PD 1566 dated
• “Strengthening the Philippine Disaster Control
11 June 1978
Capability and Establishing the National Program on
Community Disaster Preparedness”

23. NDCC Circular No.  Cluster Approach in the Philippine Management

05, Series of 2007 System

24. NDCC Circular • Policy Guidelines on the Delivery of Basic Services to

No.14, series of 2002 Displaced Children in Disaster Situations
Thank you!