BARMM advances kid’s rights

ADVANCING CHILDREN’S RIGHTS --- Representatives from the BARMM led by Minister Naguib Sinarimbo (seated 2nd from left) of the Ministry of the Interior and Local Government - BARMM, among others, show the memorandum of agreement (MOA) they signed with Fanny Divino (center seated), senior program manager of Save the Children Philippines for Mindanao, during a ceremony held inside the BARMM compound in Cotabato City last July 1. (Photo courtesy of BPI-BARMM)

COTABATO CITY ---  A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) advancing children’s rights was signed here between and among  the Bangsamoro Autonomous Regional Government, Save the Children Philippines (SCP), and the Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society (CBCS) last July 1.

The Ministry on Social Services, Ministry of Health, Ministry of the Interior and Local Government,  and Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education (MBHT) are among the local partners of the these non-government organizations that support and promote the rights of children, particularly in Mindanao.

To fully understand the MOA, Fanny Divino, SCP senior program manager for Mindanao, underscored the different roles and responsibilities of each party.

She said the MOA pertains to the conduct of a contextualized Child Rights Situational Analysis (CRSA) in selected Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) areas.

“This is to ensure that every needs of every last child in the region are effectively and meaningfully provided by the duty-bearers, through evidence-based and participatory approach,” she added.

She said the result of the CRSA will be utilized in the development of programs and policies for children by all concerned institutions. An individual or group of individuals will also be assigned to participate during the conduct of actual research for collaboration and assessment.

The Save the Children Philippines is an independent organization that aims to create better lives for children in the Philippines and across the world. It has been operating in the Philippines for the last three decades and is dedicated in helping children.

It has been providing emergency and long-term support for Filipino children to have access to quality education, health services, child protection, child rights governance, disaster risk reduction or climate change adaptation, food security, livelihood, and other humanitarian response interventions.

The agreement took effect July 1 following the MOA signing and shall remain in full effect until December 31, 2019. Its duration may be extended for any duration upon mutual written agreement of all parties. (BPI-ARMM)