Section 2Sec./Art. 2

Declaration of Stale Policy. - It shall be the policy of the State to provide special protection to children in situations of armed conflict from all forms of abuse, violence, neglect, cruelty, discrimination and other conditions prejudicial to their development, taking into consideration their gender, cultural, ethnic and religious background. For this purpose, the State shall:

(a) Fully implement the protection guaranteed under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), its Optional Protocol on the involvement of children in armed conflict and all other core human rights treaties, particularly, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment; other pertinent international instruments such as the International Labor Organization Convention No. 182 concerning the prohibition and immediate action for the elimination of the worst forms of child labor; the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and the additional protocols ratified by the Philippines; the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) General Recommendation No. 30 and the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction;

(b) Take into account the United Nations Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement, the United Nations Security Council Resolutions related to children affected by armed conflict, United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) No. 1820 on Women, Peace and Security, and other pertinent international instruments in the implementation of its treaty obligations and of this Act;

(c) Respect the human rights of children at all times. It shall be recognized that children are entitled to dignity and respect as human beings in need of protection from degradation, humiliation, maltreatment, exploitation and assault;

(d) Consider as paramount the best interests of children, and treat all children involved in, affected by or displaced by armed conflict as victims;

(e) Take all feasible measures to prevent the recruitment and use of children in armed conflict and shall take all necessary measures to ensure the effective implementation and enforcement of the provisions of this Act;

(f) Take all the necessary measures to address the root causes of armed conflict including, but not limited to, poor governance, issues of injustice and widespread poverty and economic inequity that result in involving, affecting or displacing children;

(g) Continue to recognize its primary role in providing-effective protection and relief to all children in situations of armed conflict;

(h) Continue to fulfill its responsibilities to end impunity and to prosecute those responsible especially for grave child rights violations in armed conflict; and

(i) Ensure the right to participation of children affected by armed conflict in all its policies, actions, and decisions concerning their rescue, rehabilitation and reintegration.