Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines
Inputs to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) on the
Human Rights Council Resolution 34/16 on: “Protecting the rights of the child in humanitarian
situations”
19 September 2017
I. Initiatives of the Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines (CHRP) in Protecting the Rights
of the Child in Humanitarian Situations:
1. As a state party to the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and its Optional Protocol on
the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict, the Philippines is duty-bound to promote and
protect the rights of children, particularly in situations of armed conflict. The CHRP, as the national
human rights institution, on the other hand, is mandated to monitor the Philippines’ compliance with
this obligation, with the end in view that the rights of children, including those who are internally
displaced or otherwise adversely affected by situations of armed conflict and natural and humanmade disasters, are respected, protected and fulfilled.
2. The Philippines in 2009 enacted "The Philippine Act on Crimes Against International
Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and Other Crimes Against Humanity" (Republic Act No. 9851).
Besides the 1987 Philippine Constitution and Executive Order 163 which give the CHRP human
rights monitoring and investigation powers, this law elaborates on the functions of the CHRP in
terms of humanitarian protection through Chapter 7, Section 18.
3. In situations of armed conflict or natural disasters, children experience heightened vulnerability
and exposure to harm. They are at a higher risk of experiencing human rights violations and internal
displacements. They are likewise more likely to be exposed to recruitment efforts of armed groups.
Pursuant to its mandate, and given such threats to the safety and security of children in these
contexts, the CHRP monitors and investigates issues and concerns related to grave child rights
violations (GCRVs) in humanitarian situations. The following is a summary of its findings as regards
main challenges in protecting the rights of the child in humanitarian situations and good
practices in protecting the rights of children in humanitarian situations.
II. Main Challenges and Responses in Protecting the Rights of the Child in Humanitarian Situations:
4. One challenge faced by the regional monitoring teams is the difficulty in accessing information
from affected children and their families. Cultural and language barriers between the families and
the CHRP teams often hamper the data gathering process.1 The CHRP has also observed that
some families do not report violations committed against children because they were not aware
1
Reported by CHRP Region X.