THE NATIONAL CHILDREN'S MONTH
The 2025 National Children's Month is an empowering sentiment for Filipino children - child created - to advocate to end to the most modern concern plaguing their counterparts more than anything else - online sexual abuse and exploitation. "Wakasan" is timely, as the call means to end such heinous behavior, but it's also a surprising awareness as it has been confirmed more than anything else of global reach that we find the Filipino child in the most troubled state, as a United Nations report declared the nation as the worldwide epicenter of digital exploitation and its tragic realities. Thus, by giving power to these child advocates who boast their fear of "exposure" and "digital access" to their vulnerable worlds, the nation can recognize that if an advocate's declaration can champion cyberspace across international borders, it's because the declaration protects their rights for safety, decency and private.
Yet much remains to be done for a gap exists between intention and true implementation on a national scale. For example, despite the passage of R.A. 11930 of 2022 - which aims to institutionalize such protection, with good intention evident behind its drafting - the numbers still fall short - absolute vulnerability is established by child predictions of becoming victims of such crimes while reporting getting involved in incidents is dismal low, leading readers to believe assessment did not champion National Children's Month efforts beyond a November annualized and standardized approach. For example, yes, there are specialized PNP Women and Children Protection Desks - but such established law enforcement agencies are few and far between due to budgetary restrictions while sustained high-level specialized training is needed just to investigate these faceless crimes - often only accessible through digital means - to a sufficient level where potential prosecution is even possible. To back up this theme appeal, there needs to be a government budgetary increase for such efforts, once and for all for everyone who will ever need it.
Ultimately, the theme for 2025 is an empowering call to arms for all Filipinos. The legal structure exists and the child's plea for safety and dignity are housed within that framework; now everyone needs to ensure transparency; funding; sustained efforts; accountability; provide such protection from all tiers - from the highest court system down to barangay levels; from the parents to the private sector - so what is promised within the law can finally come true. Let's collaborate and fight until it's finally "Wakas!
Sources:
Republic Act No. 11930: The Anti-Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) and Anti-Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials (CSAEM) Act.
Republic Act No. 10661: The National Children's Month Act
Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC): Lead agency for the National Children's Month celebration.
Sources:
Republic Act No. 11930: The Anti-Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) and Anti-Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials (CSAEM) Act.
Republic Act No. 10661: The National Children's Month Act.
Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC): Lead agency for the National Children's Month celebration.
Sources:
Republic Act No. 11930: The Anti-Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) and Anti-Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials (CSAEM) Act.
Republic Act No. 10661: The National Children's Month Act.
Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC): Lead agency for the National Children's Month celebration.
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