This is urgent!
This blog isn't about my travel experience nor something that talks about my life. This blog is a call of awareness and reinforcement. As of the time of writing this article, someone's life is in danger. While our younger siblings or children are tucked soundly on bed beside us, some others are living in fear and trauma, and some others are hanging on the thread and holding on with their dear life.
Not a week ago while we were speaking about Gender-based Violence and Child Protection Policy, we encountered a concern from one of our participants. The I-thought-it-was-just-an-ordinary-training became an immediate concern - a concern every parent should be aware of. How much do we really think our children are safe at home? in our community?
As to speak, one of the rights of the child is to be protected - a safe home with their parents as their primary caregivers and protectors. But it was not the case of the child the participant talked about. It was the opposite rather. In the Philippines, (PhilStar, 2019) 1 out of 5 children are victims of violence and abuse, and among of these cases, others are unreported and underreported.
The case conference brought me goosebumps. The moment we had the complainant in the police station for appointment, I saw from her very own eyes the justice she has been longing for.
"Why is the justice system not in my side? Why is it not in my favor?"
Then I cringed. I thought of the years when the same justice system turned my back on me. I thought of my sleepless nights - one court hearing after another. I thought of my testimonies, the thousand tears, and the countless tormenting images of the perpetrator that woke me up every evening. I heard my own voice when I listened to the complainant. I saw myself as the victim of abuse and violence.
As the social worker went back to the case, I promised myself to help others who experienced the same trauma as mine. Being a victim is never easy - you will live up with the abuse the entire life. It takes years to heal. It takes years to accept. It will take a lifetime to forget.
My story isn't different from the reported case I encountered. But I am hoping and praying that justice will be by the "child's" side, and not another DISMISSED case!
Here are the red flags and warning signs of Gender-based Violence:
1. Unexplained physical injuries (bruises, cuts, burns, or broken limbs).
2. Sudden change of behavior or mood.
3. Suicidal thoughts or actuations of suicide attempts.
4. Sudden or unexplained, intense fear and/or anger towards a suspected abuser.
5. Over-sexualized behaviours.
6. Isolation of family members or other people.
If you know cases of abuse or violence, please REPORT them immediately!
Let us save the children or victims of abuse.
They are always URGENT CASES!
A good reminder to be up-to-date with ways of protecting the innocence of our children. By all means, we have to find ways to protect them from harm.
ReplyDeleteI am sorry that you had to go through such experience, Anj, and thank you for being brave in sharing this piece out there. We all need a home that fosters care, support, and love and I pray for all children and everyone to have that. It's also sad that until now we still need to advocate for these basic rights, but hopeful at the same time because there are still advocates who are willing to give a voice to those who have lost theirs.
ReplyDeleteInnocent children deserves protection. We should be more knowledgeable aboit child protection and right.
ReplyDeleteI agree. But our own justice system is swamped by backlog themselves. I think there should be some form of IEC for one's rights and reporting as I myself discovered the weird intricacies of it when we become victims of a crime like filing a blotter in the location the incident happened and then following up all the time which can take time, energy and sanity if one is going in blind.
ReplyDeleteThe rights of every child should always be protected. They are more vulnerable to abuse. Everyone should be aware about the red flags and warning signs. Hence, it's also important to have regular contact to children. Through it, we can observe if there are changes with their behaviors. No one deserves this tormenting experience.
ReplyDeleteI think there's a law on this matter. As someone who loves to take care of my siblings, and nephews/nieces, it's a sad thing that some would gone through situations like this. I hope this blog could reach more. There are also Child Protection NGO's that could also.
ReplyDeleteeveryone deserves protection and we should speak out about violence. So sad to hear some devastating news about child case violence here in the Philippines. Looking forward to have a better progress in our justice here in our country.
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