The ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights Philippines, in partnership with Child Rights Coalition Asia, and Norway, hosted the ASEAN Dialogue on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) General Comments in Manila on 11 – 12 December.
The dialogue is a follow up on the ASEAN Dialogue on the UNCRC and Its Related Instruments that was held on October 2018 in Manila. The previous dialogue recommended raising awareness on the UNCRC General Comments and strengthening collaboration between ASEAN and UNCRC.
This year’s dialogue shared best practices in addressing challenges by discussing the General Comments as authoritative interpretations of the UNCRC articles, and as a means to identify regional and international similarities in advancing the rights of the child.
General Comment 12 on the right of the child to be heard and General Comment 14 on the right of the child to have his or her best interests were taken as primary considerations and were extensively discussed.
The recommendations that were brought up during the dialogue included strengthening the awareness of decision makers on General Comments, institutionalising monitoring and evaluation processes on the implementation of General Comments, reinforcing efforts to educate children about their rights, and streamlining the promotion and protection of the rights of the child in ASEAN. The recommendations will serve as inputs in policy formulation at the national and regional levels.
The dialogue gave a special focus on children in vulnerable situations such as children of illegal migrants, child brides, children of sex workers and those with disabilities. Sixteen-year-old child rights advocate, Ericka Quilos also participated in a special session on child participation.
The dialogue was attended by representatives of ASEAN Member States, government agencies, national legislators, civil society organisations, and other child rights experts and advocates.
Experts and practitioners included member of the UNCRC Atty. Mikiko Otani, Malaysian Commissioner for Child Affairs of the Human Rights Commission, Prof. Dato’ Noor Aziah Mohd. Awal, and former Thailand Representative to the AICHR Dr. Seree Nonthasoot,.
Philippine Representative to the AICHR, Ambassador Elizabeth P. Buensuceso read a message from the Philippines’ Secretary of Foreign Affairs Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr. who called on participants to find more ways to interpret and implement the provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child in the face of new challenges confronting the children of ASEAN.
Secretary Locsin’s message urged government decision-makers and civil society representatives to give meaning to the Convention’s core objective of promoting and protecting children’s rights and to share best practices that have saved children from abuse and neglect.
Undersecretary Florita Villar of the Philippines’ Department of Social Welfare and Development also read a message from Secretary Rolando Joselito Bautista who challenged participants to actualise efforts in advancing children’s rights.
The dialogue is funded through the Norway-ASEAN Regional Integration Programme and a part of the 2019 AICHR Priority Programme and Activities.
