Never in world history have there been so many defenders and activists protecting children and promoting their welfare. Never have there been so many laws advancing their well being, their education, their health. Nowadays, children have never been loved as much.
All this attention to the welfare of children is new in our generation. In generations past, children had a low status in society. Even though most parents loved their children, few if any laws protected them. Child abuse and labour was everywhere, sexual abuse of children was common and hardly even considered a crime. There were few champions for children. Charles Dickens and Don Bosco are among the few who wrote and acted to help children in dire circumstances.
After World War II, the suffering and abuse of children was so widespread that people of conscience and moral principles rediscovered the teaching and respect that Jesus of Nazareth had for children. He was perhaps the first champion and defender of children.
He stood a child before a crowd of scribes, Pharisees and elders who considered themselves the elites and rulers of society. He said this child is the most important of all, whoever welcomes a child, welcomes him. That identification of Jesus with a child recognised the profound dignity and higher status of a child than anyone else. It was earthshaking; Jesus of Nazareth made a lot enemies that day.
This was not enough because there was still much child abuse and countries passed weak laws that were not implemented and failed to protect children. A further awakening as to the worst kinds of child labour in the world was needed. Finally, the human race admitted to its most terrible crimes against children in the sex industry, construction, factory and agriculture where education and dignity was taken from the children, and they were like slaves.
His teaching was ignored for the most part of 2,000 years until the defenders of children’s rights won the day at the United Nations and proclaimed a comprehensive convention that enshrined the exalted rights of the child to the whole world.
This writer was in Helsinki as a delegate from the Philippines when the convention was being finalised in debates and resolutions and the final draft was written. It was passed by the UN General Assembly the following year 1989.
This is what we must celebrate, a historical awakening and realization of the plight of abused and exploited children in the world. This awakening must continue since the danger of child abuse is getting worse with the impact of the Internet and the unethical Internet Service Providers and corrupt people abusing children.
This was not enough because there was still much child abuse and countries passed weak laws that were not implemented and failed to protect children. A further awakening as to the worst kinds of child labour in the world was needed. Finally, the human race admitted to its most terrible crimes against children in the sex industry, construction, factory and agriculture where education and dignity was taken from the children, and they were like slaves.
Another worldwide campaign brought about the convention concerning the Prohibition of and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour. This was passed in Geneva on 17 June 1999.
As we celebrate the 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines. The Chaplaincy to Filipino Migrants organises an on-line talk every Tuesday at 9.00pm. You can join us at:
https://www.Facebook.com/CFM-Gifted-to-give-101039001847033
This writer was also present in Geneva to campaign for it and to see it voted for and passed. There were marches and demonstrations around the world. The people were awakening, voices were speaking out demanding change, protection, and the freedom from a life of child enslavement. They called for the child’s right to be educated. More national laws were passed to stop such enslavement. Children were to be educated with dignity and protected against exploitation. These laws are being improved and updated as the extent of child abuse is constantly being uncovered as pedophiles find new insidious way to abuse children.
Two new Philippine laws recently passed both houses of Congress and hopefully be signed into law. One is increasing the age of consent. When passed, any act of abuse against a child 16 and younger will be statutory rape. The second new law bans so-called child brides. Any arranged relationship between a child and an older man is illegal and the offender will be jailed for many years.
Recently, child abusers found a new, criminal, way to abuse children. They got themselves hired by a child rescue non-government organisation [NGO]called Destiny Rescue, affiliated with the US charity of the same name.
The Preda Foundation, a child protection organisation represented by its executive director, Emmanuel Drewery, in support of two sexually abused child victims, one 13-years-old, filed formal legal complaints with the Olongapo City prosecutor.
The complaint alleged that hired undercover agents of the Quezon City-based NGO sexually abused several children.
When several rescued children were brought to the Preda Foundation by the Olongapo City social worker for care and protection, they revealed that during what should have been a rescue from traffickers, the undercover agents brought them to hotels and sexually abused them while their traffickers stood outside the bedroom door.
The complaint alleged that hired undercover agents of the Quezon City-based NGO sexually abused several children
We contacted the country head of Destiny Rescue, Alwin Laysico, and his undercover investigation head, Michael Santiago, to ask their help in identifying the agents. They did not cooperate. The parent US-based Destiny Rescue also failed to reply to our requests for help.
National Bureau of Investigation chief in Olongapo City, Attorney Orlando Navallo, is investigating and has assured us that the suspects will be found and identified. The prosecutor has yet to make a resolution on the complaint.
Francis Bermido Jr, president of the Preda Foundation, has appealed to Destiny Rescue to cooperate and identify the suspects and bring them to justice. The child victims are determined to get justice.
Anyone can refer a child for care and recovery from trafficking or sexual abuse by contacting Preda at predainfo@preda.org. A team of professional therapists and social workers at the Preda therapeutic homes heals and empowers the child victims and helps them get justice against their abusers.
On average, the Preda children win 18 convictions against their abusers and traffickers every year. It is hoped that the suspects in the abuse case will be identified soon and be brought to justice.
The affidavits can be found here. https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Hsq4t-bRFzl08KWeVWziVFifWjkAReIC?usp=sharing
Father Shay Cullen
www.preda.org
