Usher the development and enactment of child-responsive laws and policies by directly engaging legislators, civil society, children, and other stakeholders
WHO WE ARE
Child Rights Network is the largest alliance of organizations and agencies pushing for children’s rights legislation in the Philippines.
OUR VISION
Nurture a world where all children enjoy their human rights through responsive laws and policies
OUR MISSION
Build new and harness existing committed champion legislators for children’s rights issues
Undertake data gathering, updating, and data sharing efforts to ensure the availability and accessibility of evidence-based information in aid of legislation
Drumbeat wider public support, information dissemination, and active participation in children-focused legislative work
Concretely integrate child participation in legislative work and governance, according to their evolving capacities
Advocate for progressively increasing relevant public investment and its responsible and accountable utilization for children in and through legislation
Serve as a vigilant and critical oversight mechanism that tirelessly monitors the implementation of laws for children and launch appropriate action to ensure their meaningful participation
OUR VALUES
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Uphold children’s rights enshrined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child
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Put the best interest of the child in all legislation
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Uphold the meaningful participation of children in all levels of legislation
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Ensure active engagement of the public in legislative work
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Facilitate collaboration between and among policymakers and stakeholders, utilizing inter-disciplinary approaches in mainstreaming children’s rights in legislation
OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Solo Parents Welfare Act
Republic Act 8972
The Solo Parents Welfare Act provides benefits and privileges to solo parents and their children. They can enjoy benefits such as flexible work schedule, protection from work discrimination, and entitlement to parental leave.
Early Childhood Care and Development Act
Republic Act 8980
The Early Childhood Care and Development Act provides a comprehensive policy and national system for early childhood care and development (ECCD). This puts in place a national policy framework that covers the full range of ECCD (health, nutrition, early education and social services programs) that supports the holistic needs of young children from birth to age six (6).
Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act
Republic Act 9208
The Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act criminalizes trafficking for the purposes of exploitation, including overt acts such as trafficking under the guise of arranged marriage, adoption, sex tourism, prostitution, pornography, or the recruitment of children into armed conflict.
Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act
RAs 9344 and 10630
Enacted in 2005 and 2012
The Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act raised the minimum age of criminal responsibility of children from 9 years old to 15 years old. However, the child in conflict with the law shall be subjected to an intervention program. Children who are above 15 years old but below 18 years old and above 12 but below 15 years old who commit serious offenses are to be provided care in the Bahay Pag-asa.
Child Protection Act
Republic Act 7610
Enacted in 2007
The Child Protection Act provides stronger protection for children against child abuse, exploitation, and discrimination. The law ushered the creation of a comprehensive program on child abuse, exploitation, and discrimination to protect children against various kinds of abuse.
Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act
Republic Act 9262
The Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act defines violence against women and their children. The law also provides a concrete framework on penalties and protective measures for victim-survivors.
Children in Emergencies Act
Republic Act 10821
Enacted in 2016
The Children in Emergencies Act mandates the provision of emergency relief and protection for children before, during, and after disasters and other emergency situations.
Anti-Child Pornography Act
Republic Act 9775
Enacted in 2009
The Anti-Child Pornography Act defines and penalizes the crime of child pornography. This strengthened the continuous efforts to protect every child from all forms of exploitation and abuse.
Children in Situations of Armed Conflict Act
Republic Act 11188
Enacted in 2019
The Children in Situations of Armed Conflict Act declares children as “zones of peace,” aimed at protecting children in situations of armed conflict from all forms of abuse and violence and prosecute persons or groups violating the measure.
Philippine HIV and AIDS Policy Act
Republic Act 11166
Enacted in 2016
Philippine HIV and AIDS Policy Act expanded the scope of the law it replaced, the 21-year-old Philippine AIDS Prevention and Control Act of 1998, to ensure that health services for HIV and AIDS become more accessible to Filipinos.
First 1000 Days Act
Republic Act 11148
Enacted in 2018
The First 1,000 Days Act seeks to expand the country’s nutrition and health programs to cover children from the first day of the mother’s pregnancy up to their first two years of life.
Prohibition of Child Marriage Act
Republic Act 11596
Enacted in 2021
The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act seeks to protect children by prohibiting the practice of child marriage and declaring child marriage as illegal and imposing penalties for violations.
Domestic Administrative Adoption and Alternative Child Care Act
Republic Act 11642
Enacted in 2022
The Domestic Administrative Adoption and Alternative Child Care Act simplifies domestic adoption processes and makes it less expensive.
Increasing the Age for Determining the Commission of Statutory Rape Act
Republic Act 11648
Enacted in 2022
The Increasing the Age to Determine the Commission of Statutory Rape Act amends extant Philippine laws to raise the age of sexual consent from the current 12 years old to 16 years old to protect young people from sexual exploitation and abuse.
Inclusive Education for Learners with Disabilities Act
Republic Act 11650
Enacted in 2022
The Inclusive Education for Learners with Disabilities Act mandates all schools nationwide to make sure that learners with disabilities are given inclusive access to education.
OUR MEMBERS
THE SECRETARIAT
Philippine Legislators’ Committee on Population and Development (PLCPD)
PLCPD is the lead convenor of Child Rights Network (CRN). Established in September 1989 by a group of forward-looking legislators from the Senate and House of Representatives, PLCPD is committed to working with and among legislative bodies from the national down to the local level. The organization is devoted to developing policy champions and generating viable, responsive, and people-centered public policies on population and human development. Engaging a wide and diverse range of individuals, groups and organizations, PLCPD has, through the years, become an empowering and building institution, harnessing the people’s active participation in policymaking.
Romeo Dongeto
Executive Director, PLCPD
Romeo Dongeto is the executive director of PLCPD, which serves as the lead convenor of CRN. He has decades of experience in leading policy development and campaigns aligned with human development issues. During the 1980s, Mr. Dongeto was a cultural worker, songwriter-performer and an advocate of people’s art and literature for social change.
