The Child Rights Network, the largest alliance of organizations and agencies pressing for children’s rights legislation in the Philippines, called on the government to rethink its reimposition of “stay-at-home” rules for children with ages from 10 to 14.
The group said imposing the rule violates several provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which the Philippines is a party to, specifically the right of the child to play and leisure.
“While we acknowledge that the (government) has the safety and welfare of Filipino children in mind, we believe that keeping children confined in their homes does as much or more harm than good,” read the group’s statement on February 2.
President Rodrigo Duterte has earlier overturned the decision of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases to let children go outside of their homes ostensibly to spur economic activity.
Duterte, however, said his decision comes after the new surge of COVID-19 cases and the entry of new strains in the country.
In its statement, the Child Rights Network said it received reports of children of poor families who have experienced depression and committed self-harm as an effect of constricted and stressful home environments resulting from the strict stay-at-home rules.
The group said confining children at home deprives them of enabling environments in which play and recreational opportunities are available to them.
“In the same vein, this measure does not consider the welfare of children in street situations, as imposing strict stay-at-home rules may lead to a whole new spate of children’s rights violations,” read the group’s statement.
