THE UNIVERSITY of the Philippines-Los Baños held its 2nd Symposium on the Child and the Family that tackled rights of children.

Themed “Children in need of special protection: Views, Issues, and Interventions,” the online symposium featured Dandin Espina, a child protection specialist and rights advocate; Charmaine Mariscotes, president of the Life Skills Development Intervention Center, Inc.; and Lea Rojo Gracilla, principal of the Cagayan Center for Special Students and Learners, Inc.

Espina discussed children’s rights and the plight of children during disasters and emergencies.

He said that children’s rights are grouped into survival, development, protection and participation rights.

“These ensure children’s right to life and existence and the right to education, play, and culture. These also protect children against forms of abuse and neglect, and in the criminal justice system and in employment, and allows them to express themselves and develop as participants in society,” Espina said.

He also discussed the rising cases of online sexual exploitation of children and the socio-ecological impacts of Covid19 on children and their families that could lead to disruption of services and livelihood, limited access to education and community support services, and heightened risks to abuse, neglect, and violence.

Meanwhile, Mariscotes talked about recognizing children with exceptionalities as a guide for children’s development and learning interventions.

Her discussion covered the most common exceptionalities including deafness or hardness of hearing, blindness and those who have learning disability, intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorder, physical impairment, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

She said that these conditions can make it hard for children to learn and function and that it is necessary to observe them so that they can be given proper assistance and interventions.

Mariscotes also called for better support for families who have children with special needs.

Gracilla talked about creating safe spaces for children with special needs, citing this is necessary to give children an environment where they can be themselves without fear of judgement or harm.

She shared strategies in creating safe spaces for children.