Together for Children: An Insight on the National Children’s Month

The 2024 National Children's Month Celebration highlights the pressing need to combat violence against children and foster a safer, more nurturing environment for the youth. The theme, "Break the Prevalence, End the Violence: Protecting Children, Creating a Safe Philippines," is a call to action for every Filipino to take responsibility for safeguarding children's rights, ensuring their safety, and securing their future. 

In a country, wherein cases of child abuse, neglect, and exploitation remain prevalent, this theme resonates deeply, urging stakeholders to act decisively to address these issues.

The manifestation of violence against children in the country includes forms as old as physical abuse, bullying, or even the emotional scars brought about by growing up in extreme poverty. Of course, the laws are there, such as the Republic Act 7610 or the "Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act," but there is not really an enforcement. Moreover, illiteracy makes a problem even deeper as illiterate children become easy prey for exploitation and abuse. A child unable to read and write will find it increasingly hard to understand rights, is less capable of reporting violations, and is more likely to be trapped into poverty traps and cycles of vulnerability. Personally, I think this is what the celebration should focus on, because as we look forward, the connection between education and child protection offers a path filled with potential. A literate child is more likely to recognize and report violations, advocate for themselves, and build a future where they can thrive.

This celebration does more than simply acknowledge the rights of children for just a month. Instead, it is more of a call to continue efforts done all year round. From this event, we can find strength in these endeavors and redouble our efforts in ending violence against children; literacy; and helping the younger generation to become whole persons. United in purpose, we can turn this vision into a living reality, creating a safer, nurturing environment for every child in the Philippines. 

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