After 22 years, the Philippines is no longer included in the United Nations’ list of countries with grave child rights violations related to armed conflict.

In a statement, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) accredited the exclusion from the list to the strengthened implementation of Republic Act No. 11188, the Special Protection of Children in Situations of Armed Conflict Act.

It also cited the government’s beefed-up protocols on child protection.

Specifically, the CHR said that the Armed Forces of the Philippines has ensured that children encountered in operations are treated as victims and rights-holders.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development, on the other hand, leads the care, custody, and referral of children, recognizing them as survivors in need of protection and rehabilitation.

On the other hand, the Department of Education has also issued guidelines promoting schools as Zones of Peace and discouraging their use for military purposes, it said.

At the same time, the CHR said that even civil society organizations have supported child protection efforts, including the International Committee of the Red Cross, Plan International, and Sulong Peace, through programs on psychosocial support, education assistance, and child protection advocacy.

It pointed out that the Philippines has continued to comply with international standards, particularly its participation in the UN Country Task Force on Monitoring and Reporting, which implements the UN Security Council Resolution No. 1612 Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism on grave child rights violations.

It said: "As the country’s national human rights institution, CHR continues to strengthen child protection in conflict settings. These efforts include nationwide monitoring of grave child rights violations to improve response systems; the development of CHR guidelines on monitoring, reporting, and responding to CSAC cases; the issuance of a Human Rights Advisory identifying gaps in the implementation of RA No. 11188;[2] the launch of a CSAC e-Course to address knowledge gaps among frontline service providers; and the conduct of Kabataan Karapatan Caravans to expand grassroots awareness of children’s rights."

Despite the improvement, the CHR cited the lack of some protection gaps like resource and operational constraints, limited access to specialized psychosocial and mental health services, and gaps in reintegration programs continue to affect protection outcomes.

Thus, it is important for the government and the private sector to recognize children in conflict situations as victims whose rights and futures must be safeguarded.

The CHR assured: "The Commission remains committed to fulfilling its mandate to protect the rights of every Filipino child, including those in conflict-affected areas. Upholding children’s rights is a shared responsibility among government, civil society, and communities to ensure that every child can grow in a society where their dignity and well-being are promoted and protected."