DSWD top exec wants kids banned in rallies

Amid a series of protests calling for the ouster of President Arroyo, Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Dinky Soliman warned that children should be banned from joining rallies because such expose them to danger.

Soliman has warned against child exploitation for political reasons because these kids are "exposed to the elements and street dangers that are tantamount to abuse and exploitation."

She said that aside from endangering the wellbeing of children, it is also unreasonable to involve youngsters in political rallies because they still do not understand issues behind the mass movements.

"Exposing children to street protests is a clear violation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child," Soliman said.

In a press statement, she said that the Philippines is a signatory to this international treaty, which guarantees the right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly for children who can already discern matters around them.

DSWD also said in its report that CRC emphasized that youngsters must be given importance in relation to their ages and degrees of maturity.

Soliman cited Article 15.2 of this treaty, which states "children should be allowed to exercise such right provided this is done lawfully and in a way that does not jeopardize national security, public health and morality, as well as the freedom and rights of other people."

Militant groups, however, denounced her pronouncement, saying that the main cause why children join protest actions is that they see and experience the bad effects of the government's policies on them.

They said that Soliman should instead focus on how to solve problems in malnutrition, child labor and education for kids.

Militant groups also told Soliman to tell the police to stop dispersing rallies which they said is the major cause why kids are hurt during protect actions.

"While it is true that it is the responsibility of the parents to ensure the safety of their kids, the kids themselves are the ones who want to go with their parents to the rallies. And it is often the police who beat and disperse protesters, that cause them injuries," said Jaime Paglinawan, Bayan Muna regional coordinator.

Glemmar Bacusmo, Anakpawis media liaison officer, echoed Paglinawan's observations, adding that Soliman should not underestimate the capacity of children because kids are now knowledgeable on what is happening in society.