‘Bill protecting kids in conflict areas lapsed into law’

MANILA, Philippines — A network of children’s rights advocates said a measure that aims to protect children in conflict areas appears to have lapsed into law.

The Child Rights Network (CRN), an alliance of organizations and agencies pushing for children’s rights legislation in the Philippines, said President Duterte appeared to have not taken action on the “Special Protection of Children in Situations of Armed Conflict Act.”

It said the consolidated bill, primarily authored by Quezon City Rep. Feliciano Belmonte Jr. and Senate President Vicente Sotto III, was transmitted to Malacañang for signature by the President in November.

If no action was indeed taken, the group said the measure would have lapsed into law last Friday.

“The new law seeks to protect children in situations of armed conflict from all forms of abuse and violence by declaring children as ‘zones of peace’ and stipulating strict provisions that would allow the government to prosecute persons or groups violating the measure,” CRN said.

“Among the prohibited acts in the new law include killing, torture, intentional maiming, rape, abduction, recruitment of children into government armed forces and other armed groups, hamletting, food blockade, arbitrary detention, and denial of humanitarian access,” it added.

The network said the measure is part of the Philippines’ compliance with international obligations concerning the protection of children that it is party to, including the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Convention Against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and various UN Security Council resolutions related to children affected by armed conflict.