Cotabato City – Children and youth in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao presented a six-point Children’s Declaration during a special BARMM parliamentary session yesterday.
The declaration appeals to government and society for better education, an end to poverty and hunger, lasting peace, better parenting programs and greater participation of children and youth in finding solutions to issues that affect them.
The children came from various cities and towns of BARMM and presented, in a brief workshop, their hopes and aspirations on the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
BARMM, led by Chief Minister Murad Ebrahim, is expected to craft policies and programs that will uphold the best interest of children and promote their rights to survival, development, protection, and participation.
This special parliamentary session is a commitment of the BARMM government to acknowledge children as stakeholders of the CRC in the movement to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
At a press conference yesterday, Atty. Raissa Jajurie, Minister of Social Services and Development, said that all these programs for children can only be implemented if a budget is approved and that this is what they are working for now. She said other ministries also have their own programs for children which can uplift their plight especially those who are in vulnerable situations.
The children also celebrated World Children’s Day yesterday morning on a festive note at the Ebrahim Hall, Em Manor Hotel here, dubbed #GoBlue.
