Pandemic or no pandemic, the European Union  Delegation to the Philippines is steadfast in its resolve to uphold and to protect the rights of every child.

The EU Delegation to the Philippines is conducting its first virtual edition of the Children’s Rights Summit “Para sa Kabataan, Mula sa Kabataan, Isang Pagtitipon para sa Karapatan” on 17 October from 9 a.m. to  12 noon to be streamed live via https://www.facebook.com/EUDelegationToThePhilippines.

Youth advocates Frankie Pangilinan, Macoy Averilla (Macoy Dubs)  and Atty Maria Jela Mendones Moran are guest speakers in the summit.

Co-presented by the Ateneo Human Rights Center and the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Child Rights Center, the summit will highlight children’s invaluable rights amidst the “new normal”. It will focus on the four basic rights: survival, protection, participation, and development.

Mr Thomas Wiersing  Chargé d'Affaires a.i. of the EU Delegation to the Philippines said that  “we want to provide a platform for children to learn about their basic rights  and to advocate for their own rights”.

The concept behind the summit has been to train children and youth so that they can train their peers. A two-day training session was held from 10 to 11 October to orient nominated youth leaders aged 15 to 18 years old on facilitating discussions and breakout sessions for the summit proper.

The Delegation previously held onsite children’s rights summit in 2018 and in 2019.

Guided by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the EU recognises that children including those less than 18 years of age, are important members of society, who  must be provided a healthy physical and emotional environment as they grow up. The EU Charter of Fundamental Rights guarantees the protection of the rights of the child. 

For more information on the upcoming children’s rights summit and other activities of the EU, please follow the Facebook page of the European Union Delegation to the Philippines.