The Monitoring, Reporting and

Response System (MRRS) on the

Grave Child Rights Violations
(GCRVs) in Situations of Armed
Conflict
 Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism
 Monitoring, Reporting and Response
System
 Definition of Terms
 Legal Normative Framework
 Protocol on Monitoring, Reporting and
Response System (MRRS)
- United Nations undertaking focused on the plight of
children affected by armed conflict

➢ Convention on the Rights of the Child

➢ Optional Protocol on Children Involved in Armed

Conflict

➢ UN Security Resolutions issued by the UN Security

Council – requested that the situation of CAAC be
addressed in all reports of the Secretary General
 Initially implemented in 7 countries
(Burundi, Core d’Ivoire, Democratic
Republican of Congo, Sudan, Somalia, Nepal
and Sri Lanka)

 In 2007, Philippines was included together

with Chad, Colombia and Myanmar due to
recruitment of minors by different armed
groups.
 Governmental Armed Forces - refer to the Armed
Forces of Philippines (AFP), Philippine National
Police (PNP), paramilitary, and other law
enforcement agencies;

 Armed Group- refers to an armed non-State

actor or non-State entity engaged in armed
violence against the State or its government
forces or against other non-State armed
groups, actors or non-State entities
Armed Conflict
refers to armed confrontations occurring between
government forces and one or more armed groups,
or between such groups arising in the Philippine
territory. These shall include activities which may
lead to, or are undertaken in preparation of armed
confrontation or armed violence that put children’s
lives at risk and their rights violated
 Zone of Peace
 a site with sacred, religious, historic, educational, cultural,
geographical and/or environmental importance protected and
preserved by its own community

 not merely a "Demilitarized Zone“

 A sanctuary that operates within ethical principles of non-

violence, free from weapons, acts of violence, injustice and
environmental degradation
Zone of Peace
 Recognition expresses commitments on the part of its
community, governmental authority and, if appropriate,
religious leadership to preserve the peaceful integrity of the
designated site;

 Custodians, members, participants and visitors exemplify

mutual respect and non-violent behavior while on the site,
and share their resources for furthering peace and
cooperation
Children as Zones of Peace
 Children are hereby declared as Zones of Peace.

 The treatment shall extend beyond territorial or geographical

boundaries

 shall focus on the person of the child whose rights shall be

promoted and protected at all times, especially in situations of
armed conflict or violence.
Child in Situations of Armed Conflict (CSAC)

refer to all children involved in armed conflict, including

children affected by armed conflict and internally displaced
children

Source HB 4880
 Internally Displaced
Children (IDC)

refer to children or group of Child Affected in Armed

children, whether separated or Conflict (CAAC)
together with their families, who
have been forced or obliged to refers to all children population

flee or to leave their homes or experiencing or have

places of habitual residence, in experienced armed conflict
particular, as a result of or in
order to avoid the effect of armed
conflict and situations of
generalized violence

Source HB 4880
Child Involved in Armed Conflict (CIAC)

refer to children who are either forcibly, compulsorily

recruited, or who voluntarily joined a government force
or any armed group in any capacity.
These children may participate directly in armed
hostilities as combatants or fighters; or indirectly
through support roles such as scouts, spies, saboteurs,
decoys, checkpoint assistants, couriers, messengers,
porters, cooks, or as sexual objects

Source HB 4880
 Child Involved in Armed
Conflict (CIAC)

 Risks for children who become involved

are the same, whether they are
combatant and non-combatant
 Armed groups deny the presence of
children among their ranks or using them
in hostilities even as they admit that
under 18 members of their groups
perform non-combatant functions

Source HB 4880
The MRRS Protocol
International Philippine
• UN CRC together with its Optional • Presidential Decree 603 (Child &
Protocol on CIAC Youth Welfare Code)
• UN Security Council Resolutions 1539 • Republic Act s7610; 9208; 9231; 9344
(2004); 1612 (2005);1882 (2009); 1998
(2011)
• UN Guiding Principles on Internal • Memorandum of Agreement on
Displacement Handling CIAC in 2000 - first legal
instrument signed on 21 March 2000
by 9 agencies, namely: DND, AFP,
DILG, PNP, DSWD, DOH, CHR, OPAPP
and NPUDC
• ILO 182 • EO 56 s. 2001”Adopting the
Comprehensive Program Framework
for Children In Armed Conflict and
Directing National Government
Agencies and Local Government
Agencies to Implement the Same”
International Philippine
• Paris Principle • The Philippine Development Plan
• National Plan of Action for Children
• Council for the Welfare of Children
(CWC) Board Resolution (Resolution No.
2 Series of 2009, “A Resolution
Confirming that CWC be the Focal
Agency for MRM on Grave Child Rights
Violations”.
• EO 138 Amending EO 56 S.2001
”Adopting the CIAC Comprehensive
Program Framework Strengthening the
Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC)
and for Other Purposes
 Centralized response and reporting system on
cases of grave child rights violations within the
government;

Will generate standard data and information that

will serve as a major primary government source on
all matters pertaining to such violations;

Developed Protocol on Monitoring, Reporting and

Response System (MRRS) on the Grave Child Rights
Violations in the Context of Armed Conflict.
 Set standards and provide a common
framework in monitoring, reporting and
responding (MRR) to the victims of
grave child rights violations in the
context of armed conflict

Define and delineate roles between and

among agencies involved
 Components

Reporting

Monitoring Response
Grave Child Rights Violations
in Situations of Armed Conflict
 MONITORING

Any of the Grave

Child Rights
Violations

Committed in
situation of
Victim MRRS armed
conflict

REPORTING RESPONSE
 Killing
Maiming of children
Recruitment or use of children in armed conflict

Rape and other forms of gender-based violence

Abduction of children

Attacks on schools, hospitals, places of worship,

evacuation centers and public places where
children are usually found
Denial of humanitarian access to children
 KILLING OF CHILDREN

• Acts of all kinds that result in the death of one or more

children;
• Include the death of children as a result of direct
targeting and indirect actions, such as cross-fire, use of
landmines, cluster munitions, explosive remnants of
war (ERW), other improvised explosive device (IED);
• In the context of military operations, house
demolitions, search and arrest campaigns, suicide
attacks and torture;
• Also include murder, homicide and such other similar
crimes as defined in the Revised Penal Code, as
amended.
 MAIMING OF CHILDREN

• acts of all kinds of in the context of armed

conflict that result in serious or permanent
or disabling injury, scarring or defacing, or
mutilation of children
• Covers intentional maiming of children
where they are directly targeted and
Causal maiming of children which results
from indirect actions
 RECRUITMENT AND USE
OF CHILDREN

• refers to compulsory,
forced or voluntary
conscription or enlistment
of children into the
governmental armed
force or forced or
voluntary membership
into the armed group.
 ABDUCTION OF CHILDREN

• The seizure, apprehension, taking in

custody, detention or capture of one or
more children either temporarily or
permanently by force, threat of force or
coercion, or deception for the purpose of
any form of exploitation of such children in
the situation of armed conflict.
RAPE
refers to a sexual assault that violates a person’s
right to personal security and bodily integrity with
the essential lack of consent and shall include those
enumerated in Section 2 of Republic Act No. 8353,
otherwise known as “The Anti-Rape Law of 1997

SEXUAL VIOLENCE
refers to any sexual act or attempt to do a sexual act
by inducement, coercion, intimidation, or physical
force.
 ATTACKS ON SCHOOLS, HOSPITALS, PLACES OF WORSHIP,
CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTERS, EVACUATION CENTERS,
PLACES OF INDIGENOUS CULTURAL IMPORTANCE, MADARIS,
TOORIL, AND OTHER PUBLIC PLACES SUCH AS RECREATION
PARKS, PLAYGROUNDS, MULTI-PURPOSE HALLS AND MALLS

• refer to either the occupation, shelling or targeting for

propaganda of schools, hospitals, or places of worship;
• causing damage to such places, or harm or injury to their
personnel;
• causing the total or partial physical destruction of such
facilities; or disruption of educational activities, , and health
service
• also refers to attacks of such places, which have been
temporarily abandoned by the community as a result of armed
conflict.
DENIAL OF HUMANITARIAN ACCESS TO CHILDREN

• refers to the intentional barring by physical

force or administrative barriers of humanitarian
aid, supplies, services, and personnel into,
through, and out of an area affected by armed
conflict
A. Monitoring
1. Monitor the reported incidents of
grave child rights violations and
ensure appropriate response;
2. Monitor the utilization of data
generated for policy and program
development.
3. Monitor the implementation of the
Protocol;
B. Reporting
1. Within 24 hours report any form of violation/s
thru text/call or email
✓Name of reporting party
✓Agency
✓Event Information:
✓Source of Information
✓Date and time of Incident
✓Location
✓No. of Children Affected – indicate # of
boys; # of girls
✓Name/s and Age of Affected Children
✓Name of armed group or forces involved
✓Short Description of the incident
B. Reporting - Within 24 hours report any form of
violation/s

0927-4361436

mrrs@cwc.gov.ph
B. Reporting
• Upon receipt of the report, the MRRS staff
shall accomplish the Monitoring Event form
within 24 hrs. Screening, validation and
initial assessment of the information
received must be done within 2 days after
the report has made. CWC must
immediately coordinate to appropriate
agency at all levels the reported incident for
other possible interventions to the victims
and to other affected;
• The recipient of CWC’s referral should act
on the request and provide CWC with
feedback within 72 hours after receipt;
B. Reporting
• CWC and the concerned agency/ies should
continuously provide feedback and update on the
progress of the interventions; feedback from the
source of information should also be undertaken
as necessary;

• The CWC Secretariat should provide report on

actions taken to TMG and CWC Board on a
quarterly basis;

• Reports to be publicized should be subjected for

CWC Board approval provided that confidentiality,
respect for human dignity and security of victim/s
are not at stake.
C. Response – appropriate, immediate and long term
interventions to victims of grave of child rights
violations, including but not limited to:
✓Medical assistance
✓Counseling
✓Psychosocial services
✓Protective custody
✓Emergency or temporary shelter
✓Residential care and other alternative
parental care
✓Educational assistance
✓Family tracing and reunification services
✓Livelihood and skills training
✓Free legal assistance
MONITORING AND RESPONSE TEAM
1. Gather, validate and monitor reports of
incidences of grave child rights violations
(GCRVs)
2. Ensure provision of appropriate and timely
inter-agency response
3. Provide reports/updates on the incidence of
GCRVs to the CWC Board
4. Provide relevant inputs to the CWC data-base
on GCRVs
5. Prepare periodic MRRS reports for
submission to appropriate agencies
▪ Intended Users

MRRS-GCRVSAC Team and other Organizations

.
Non-Government
Local Councils Organizations
for the (NGOs), Civil
Protection of Society
Local Social Children (LCPC) Organizations
Welfare and (CSOs) Faith-
Development based
Offices (LSWDO) Organizations
(FBOs), People’s
City/ Municipal Organizations
Health Offices (POs) operating
(C/MHO) in the area
 LOCAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES
1. Office of the Governor/Mayor (LGUs)
✓Issue an Executive Order to form MRRS Team
✓Direct Local Government Offices to ensure that
victims of GCRVs are properly documented, reported
and immediately responded to
✓Ensure and strictly observe the age requirement for
entering to multiplier forces.

2. Provincial/City/ Municipal Health Office

✓Report cases of GCRVS they encountered or they
know of
✓Ensure that victims of GCRVs are provided with
medical treatment and/or hospitalization in accordance
with existing programs and policies.
 LOCAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES
3. Provincial/City/Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office
✓ Report within twenty four (24) hours the victims of GCRVs
to CWC copy furnish DSWD (Regional and National)
✓ Provide immediate and appropriate assistance including
but not limited to protective custody to victims of GCRVs;
✓ Ensure availability of appropriate facilities.
✓Ensure proper documentation of the cases of the victims
and their family.
✓ Protect the CSAC from exposure to the media
✓Open communication between and among LGUs for referral
to facilitate parental/relative assessment, monitoring the
reintegration of the child to his/ her place of origin, after-
care services for the children who were reintegrated to
their families/ relatives, and provision of other needs as
necessary.
 DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

On the Implementation of the MRRS Protocol

• Report to CWC cases of attacks on schools and their

personnel and other GCRVs that they have encountered or
know of;
• Ensure access and availability of education for all children,
especially in conflict-affected areas and during conflict
situations, i.e. in evacuation centers including IPs
 DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

On the Implementation of the CSAC Law

• mainstream Peace Education with special reference to
the UNCRC and the Optional Protocol on the
involvement of children in armed conflict; inclusion in
the curricula of formal and non-formal education
settings.
• Formulate and implement policies and guidelines on
appropriate education related programs, projects, and
activities for CSAC;
• provide updated definition of schools
• ensure access to education even within or in areas
surrounding armed conflict
 DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Policy Recommendations
Develop Guidelines that focuses on the following:

• providing educational assistance to children

undergoing rehabilitation
• protection of learners, personnel, and schools in
situations of armed conflict
• attacks on schools – prevention and proper response,
possible militarization of schools.

• Review of existing guidelines on CSAC and CICL – to

look at the interface
 Conduct of orientation-workshops on the MRRS Protocol
(both at the national and regional levels)

 Reconstitution of the Inter-Agency Committee

(SC-CAACD, IAC CIAC, IAC CSAC )

 Monitoring of GCRV Incidents

 Development of policies related to CSAC – EO 138, RA 11188

 OPPORTUNITIES CHALLENGES
• Data or information generated • Accurate and timely reporting
would be the only government and responding to incidents;
input to be recognized by the
CTFMR of the UN;
• Strengthen collaboration and • Policy issuance of each agency
linkages between and among relative to MRRS;
government agencies in the • Full implementation of the CSAC
development of policies and Law
delivery of programs and services
for the prevention, rescue,
rehabilitation and reintegration
of CSAC.
• Enactment of RA 11188 and the
adoption of its Implementing
Rules and Regulations
MARAMING SALAMAT PO!