THE Commission on Human Rights (CHR) hailed the Philippines’ removal from a United Nations list of grave child rights violations, calling the development a milestone in the protection of children’s rights.
CHR Chairman Richard Palpal-latoc said the country’s removal in late 2025 from the UN’s list of situations with grave child rights violations related to armed conflict — after 22 years — was the result of sustained national efforts to strengthen the implementation of the Special Protection of Children in Situations of Armed Conflict Act, or Republic Act (RA) 11188.
He said this was detailed in the commission’s 2025 Annual Report on Children in Situations of Armed Conflict (CSAC), which cited key institutional mechanisms established by the government and civil society to safeguard children.
Central to these efforts, according to the CHR chief, is the interagency committee on CSAC, which coordinates implementation among agencies under RA 11188.
The CHR cited the Armed Forces of the Philippines for ensuring that children encountered in operations are treated as victims and rights-holders.
“Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development leads the care, custody, and referral of children, recognizing them as survivors in need of protection and rehabilitation, while the Department of Education has also issued guidelines promoting schools as ‘zones of peace’ and discouraging their use for military purposes,” Palpal-latoc said.
He said civil society organizations have also supported these efforts. These include the International Committee of the Red Cross, Plan International and Sulong Peace through programs on psychosocial support, education assistance and child protection advocacy, he added.
The Philippines has likewise continued to comply with international standards, the commission said, noting its participation in the UN Country Task Force on Monitoring and Reporting on grave child rights violations.
Despite the positive development, the CHR said protection gaps remain. Resource and operational constraints, limited access to specialized psychosocial and mental health services, and gaps in reintegration programs continue to affect protection outcomes, the CHR said.
“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,” Palpal-latoc said.