Child rights groups called for peaceful and clean elections during an “advocacy walk” participated by more than 200 children from urban poor communities in Quezon city on Saturday, April 30.
The event was part of the “Boto Mo Kinabukasan Ko Campaign,” an pre-elections initiative led by the Salinlahi Alliance for Children’s Concerns.
The activity aims to highlight the electoral agenda of Filipino children and the demand for candidates to uphold their rights and welfare.
“Hangad natin ang isang malinis at mapayapang halalan. Kaya bilang child rights advocate at first time voter, nakikiisa ako sa panawagan ng mamamayang Filipino na wakasan na ang marumi, marahas, at malaganap na dayaan tuwing eleksyon,” said David Austria, Salinlahi Youth spokesperson.
“Huwag nating hayaan na ang ating karapatan sa pagboto ay nabibili, namamanipula, o ipinagkakait sa atin dahil parang ninanakaw na rin ang tayo ng karapatan at kinabukasan,” he added.
In a manifesto, participating child rights organizations emphasized the need for candidates to clearly discuss their proposed policies and programs that are intended to address the issues of Filipino children, such as poverty, hunger, malnutrition, learning crisis, teenage pregnancy, child abuse, and sexual violence, among others.
“It’s really frustrating. Despite the worsening situation of Filipino children under the pandemic, their concerns and issues are rarely discussed during campaign rallies,” said Salinlahi secretary general Eule Rico Bonganay.
“Most candidates tend to focus their messages toward the voting populations,” said Bonganay.
He said Filipino voters should scrutinize the platforms and track records of candidates, especially those running for a national position.
Bonganay reminded voters not to elect “corrupt, incompetent and traditional politicians,” especially those who have already been implicated in plunder and corrupt practices.
“These corrupt politicians, who mostly belong to political dynasties, have been running the country for decades in order to promote their vested interest at the expense of Filipino children’s future,” said Bonganay.
“While many of them have already been found guilty of plunder and corruption, they continue to enjoy freedom using their political influence and the money that they’ve pillaged from the country’s coffers,” he added.
Among the institutions that attended the event were the Bata Muna Network, Salinlahi Youth, Erda Foundation, Eskulayan, Children’s Rehabilitation Center (CRC), Parent’s Alternative on Early Childhood Care and Development (PAECCDI), Ateneo Human Rights Center (AHRC), and the All UP Academic Employees Union.
