'To achieve a just and lasting peace, the Duterte government needs to sign and implement the CASER (Comprehensive Agreement on Socio-Economic Reforms). The agreement will help improve the lives of millions of impoverished Filipino children and their families,' this is the challenge of Kharlo Manano, secretary general of Salinlahi Alliance for Children's Concerns, an alliance of child rights groups in the Philippines.
Talking about the recently concluded third round of the peace negotiations between the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) and the Duterte government, the child rights group mentioned the importance of national industrialization and genuine land reform among other programs included in the proposal of the NDFP.
Manano explained that 'Nationalizing industries will provide jobs for Filipinos and will contribute to eventual eradication of exploitation of child labor, children in conflict with the law and even the perilous involvement of children in drug trades and use.'
Likewise, the group said that genuine land reform will help lower down hunger and malnutrition rates among children of farmers and farm workers. 'If peasant families would have land to till and sufficient support to agriculture from the government, cases of child trafficking and cyber pornography would lessen since majority of victims are rural poor without regular livelihood,' Manano continued.
Salinlahi encouraged Duterte to be true to his vow to achieve peace, 'President Duterte should seriously implement CASER once signed and the Flipino people should be vigilant to ensure social justice as a requisite in achieving genuine peace. The success of the peace talks and CASER would contribute to a better future for children,' concluded Manano.###
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