The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) endorses a Child Protection Systems Strengthening (CPSS) framework in the First Global Ministerial Conference (GMC) on Ending Violence Against Children (VAC) on November 7 to 8 in Bogota, Colombia.
In his letter to UNICEF Philippines Chief of Child Protection Patricia Lim Ah Ken, DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian said the Department fully supports the CPSS framework which is designed to strengthen systems that protect children from violence, abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
“Aware that this new framework is designed to strengthen systems that protect children from violence, abuse, neglect, and exploitation, we are confident that it will establish sustainable and well-coordinated child protection mechanisms across all levels, ensuring safety and well-being of all children at all times,” Secretary Gatchalian said in his endorsement letter dated November 7.
Secretary Gatchalian also expressed the DSWD’s commitment to place the protection of children at the heart of policy actions of the nation.
“We commit to adopt and implement laws and policies that protect all children from all forms of violence, abuse, exploitation, neglect and harmful practices in all contexts,” the DSWD chief said.
The CPSS framework establishes a dedicated lead government office for child protection with authority to coordinate child protection across sectors at the national, subnational and local levels; provides a continuum of child protection, prevention, early intervention and response services; and establishes in a diverse, qualified and well-supported child protection social service workforce.
The CPSS framework also engages children and communities in decisions and actions aimed at eliminating violence against children; and enhances government data systems to improve planning, programming and policies to prevent and respond to violence against children, according to the DSWD chief.
The First GMC on Ending VAC will be attended by the DSWD, as the lead of the Philippine delegation, with other participating government agencies and non-government organizations. # (AKDL)
