Protecting Children from Harm
Part of World Vision’s goal is to help children live life to the fullest by ensuring that they are protected from any form of harm and abuse. In line with our commitment to end violence against children, World Vision directly assisted 375 child abuse cases in 2018.
World Vision’s child protection initiatives for the past year focused on equipping 1,067 individuals from partner organizations to Barangay Council for the Protection of Children (BCPC) trainings. This allowed community members and partner stakeholders map child protection issues and interventions in order to provide timely and appropriate response to identified child abuse cases. In 2018, we successfully helped 15,676 children complete their trainings in values-based life skills development activities.
It Takes a World
World Vision’s “It Takes a World” campaign is a global movement that aims to protect 3 million children from harm and abuse by 2020. In the Philippines, we put our focus on online sexual exploitation (OSEC), a grave issue that threatens the future of the most vulnerable children in the country.
On July 2018, World Vision signed a partnership with Compassion International Philippines (CIPH), and International Justice Mission (IJM) to strengthen the campaign against online sexual exploitation of children. Through this collaboration, we hope to prevent online sexual exploitation of children by supporting local and national efforts in combatting OSEC, raising awareness about the issue, and gathering and providing support to survivors.
Child Protection Compact
World Vision is pleased to partner with the International Justice Mission and the Philippine government in the implementation of the Child Protection Compact (CPC), an agreement signed by both the Philippine government and the United States government. Under this project, we aim to address the problems involved in the trafficking of Filipino children for sex and labor. To prevent OSEC and Child Labor Trafficking (CLT), World Vision will help strengthen existing community-based systems and services meant for the protection and recovery of children affected by OSEC and CLT. We will also work closely with LGUs, parents, faith-based organizations, civil society workers, and children to ensure that they are aware of the issue and are capable to protect and prevent OSEC and CLT cases.
THE JOY OF NEW BEGINNINGS
The Teaching Health and Resilience to Children through Inclusive Values and Empowerment (THRIVE) project is a World Vision initiative that aims to help children to respond and recover from abuse, neglect, violence, and exploitation. The project is implemented across Cagayan De Oro, Bukidnon and Misamis Oriental where World Vision has been doing development work for 16 years.
Susan and Jane (not their real names) were exposed to the sex industry when they were 11. Through the help of volunteers, the girls were ushered to World Vision’s drop-in shelter partner where they went through psychosocial interventions and were referred to health experts.
Connie Quebada, World Vision’s project manager for the THRIVE project, explained, “While we are making significant progress in helping children like Susan and Jane, we cannot yet fully say that they are healed. It is still a lot of work, but making them feel that they have people to turn to, people that they can trust with their stories, makes a big difference.”
Today, Susan and Jane are back to school through the Department of Education’s alternative learning system (ALS). They are still living in a shelter. Although still struggling, they are hopeful that a better future awaits them. Susan dreams of working abroad while Jane wants to be a cop in the future. Both girls hope that more children in the streets will be given the chance that they now have.
Our advocacies have seen the passage and promotion of the following child-focused laws:
Republic Act 10121 or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act
Republic Act 10821 or the Children's Emergency Relief and Protection Act
Extended Maternity Leave Law of 2015
Local ordinances on nutrition, child protection and disaster risk reduction
