International child-focused organization World Vision and the Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) recently signed, in a virtual ceremony, the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to closely work together for the Project Against Child Exploitation (Project ACE), funded by the United States Department of Labor (US-DOL).
The signing event was graced online by various
stakeholders from the national and local government as well as distinguished
guests from the US Embassy Manila and other like-minded agencies, to support
the collaboration and commitment between World Vision and CWC in jointly
addressing the worst forms of child labor (WFCL) including online sexual
exploitation of children (OSEC), and violations of acceptable conditions of
work.
World Vision National Director Rommel V. Fuerte and
CWC Executive Director Mary Mitzi Cajayon-Uy represented their respective
agencies as principal signatories, while US Embassy Manila Human Rights Officer
of the Political section along with Josef Andrew Mendoza, CWC Deputy Executive Director,
stood as official witnesses to the binding partnership document.
Rommel Fuerte, National Director of World Vision in
his opening remarks shared that “World Vision always makes sure that our
efforts, our initiatives contribute to the plans and directions of the
Philippine Government in ensuring that children, our children are able to enjoy
the rights to survival to development to protection and to participation. And
so it's always a joy for us to be collaborating with government agencies and
this partnership now with the Council for the Welfare of Children is a big step
to working together to help in building capacities of local governments where
Project ACE operates to ensure improved protection of children as it has been
our mission to keep children safe and protected as far back as our 63 years
history in the Philippines.
Project ACE Director Ms. Daphne Culanag expressed
her gratitude to the CWC for this 1st MOA Signed for the Project
saying “ We are grateful that we have signed this MOA with the CWC as it is the
lead agency in government that undertakes a coordinating role for children
through formulation and advocacy for the implementation of policies, programs
and measures; monitoring and evaluation of policies, programs and measures;
advocacy for the rights and mobilization of resources; building strong networks
partnerships and coordination mechanisms; and institution building of partners
and stakeholders. We are hopeful that Project ACE can greatly contribute to
this mission through the project’s outcomes and outputs.
Project Against Child Exploitation (Project ACE) was
launched on 14 September 2020, to support capacity building efforts of the
governments of the Philippines and at least one other country in Asia to
address Worst Forms of Child Labor including the Online Sexual Exploitation of
Children. Funding is provided by the United States Department of Labor under
cooperative agreement number IL-34007-19-75K. 100% of the total costs of the
project or program is financed with federal funds, for a total of $1,500,000.
Project ACE aims to impact child labor programs spread over Luzon, Visayas and
Mindanao with particular emphasis in two key areas - Quezon City and Cagayan De
Oro.
"Finally, the country’s long-existing problem
with Online Sexual Exploitation of Children has been brought to the attention
of everyone by no less than the administration. And although we were
disheartened in the past, seeing how the already vulnerable situation of the
children victims are aggravated due to the consequences of the pandemic, we are
optimistic for now we have the support of the World Vision along with that of
the administration as we push for an intensified campaign against OSEC among
other worst forms of child labour. The CWC stands firm in its mandate to
oversee the formulation of laws and policies to ensure that the rights of the
children are upheld at all times." Executive Director Cajayon-Uy expressed
optimism as she reiterated CWC’s commitment to upholding the MOA.
The US Embassy in Manila Chargé Law sends their
support to the project saying “Congratulations to the Council for the Welfare
of Children and World Vision on signing this Memorandum of Agreement. The
United States is proud to support Project ACE and its efforts to combat the worst
forms of child labor, including the online sexual exploitation of children.”
Marcia Eugenio, director of the Office of Child
Labor, Forced Labor, and Human Trafficking (OCFT) at the Bureau of
International Labor Affairs (ILAB) in the U.S. Department of Labor confirmed
the Department’s support and stated that, “The U.S. Department of Labor is
pleased to support Project ACE as it pursues a collaborative approach with key
partners in the Philippines to counter the worst forms of child labor,
including the online sexual exploitation of children, and promote acceptable
conditions of work.
About World Vision
World Vision is a
global Christian relief, development, and advocacy organization dedicated to
working with children, families, and communities to overcome poverty and
injustice. World Vision serves all people, regardless of religion, race,
ethnicity, or gender.
World Vision has been working on child
protection programs with USDOL since 2003. It has assisted more than 100,000
children by implementing the following projects: “ABK” Initiative or the Pag
Aaral ng Bata para sa Kinabukasan (Children’s education for the future);
followed by “ABK2” called Take Every Action for Children (TEACh) Now; and the
“ABK3” called LEAP or Livelihoods, Education, Advocacy and Protection to Combat
Exploitative Child Labor in Sugarcane areas in the Philippines.
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