Community Child Rights Education Saves Children

Community Child Rights Education Saves Children
Francsco B. Bermido, Jr.

When children are neglected and abused, the child protection law is violated but who is there to implement it and protect children and stop the physical abuse, the parental neglect and psychological hurt? That is where the ordinary people need to have awareness and education and a commitment to children’s rights.

Knowledge about children’s rights through the human rights seminars conducted by Preda team to protect children is essential to activate people and encourage them to act and save children from neglect and abuse. The good citizen and knowledgeable person who helped 7-year old Jessica had likely attended one of the seminars. People are now reporting more abuse and getting help for abused children.

This we believe is the result of the human rights seminars. Jessica is one more child saved by the awareness of neighbors to their social responsibilities. In the past, the custom was not to interfere in another family’s problem. It was the practice to turn the other way and ignore the abuse. Even sexual abuse was ignored and silence was the norm. But now, that is changing as more and more people are speaking out and challenging the situation of abuse. They are now aware of the right and wrong of child abuse and what they ought to do about it. This was another sign of change in the thinking and attitudes of the community.

Jessica, the abused child, was discovered by neighbors to be malnourished, with a pot belly and bruises all over her tiny body. She was distraught and traumatized. Preda was informed about her condition and immediately went to the rescue with the municipal social worker. They took along a policewoman to implement the law and to take the child into care and protection. The neighbors had reported the case and action was needed.

It turned out that Jessica’s mother and female partner had no love or respect or love for Jessica. She was repeatedly scolded and cursed and beaten. This caused psychological hurt and trauma.

Jessica is a child suffering from stunted growth. For a child of seven years old, it was traumatic to be deprived of love and care and proper food. She had worms in her intestines. She was brought to the Preda Home for Girls and immediately given care and taken for a medical attention. She was found covered in bruises and scars. She was severely malnourished and mentally damaged. She could hardly speak and did not know her birthday, unable to read and write and could not say anything about herself. Now her mother and her partner has disappeared and cannot be charged and held accountable at this time for the child abuse.

Jessica is now relaxed and comfortable at the Preda Children’s Home and has recovered in the previous five months. She has gained weight, is healthy and playful. She has made friends in the Preda Home and is part of the family. Jessica even goes to the Emotional Expression Therapy to have a good cry and release her heartaches and emotional pain at being abandoned and lost by her mother. This enables her to be stronger and she is talking a lot more and getting basic education. We cannot be sure what the future is for her as she has no family but for the foreseeable future, she is happy, safe and secure.

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