by Ninfa B. Quirante

Tacloban City (6 October) -- "If we give respect to our children now, someday they will respect each other!"

These were the words of Judge Nimfa Cuesta Vilches as she delivered her talk on Violence Against Children (Legal Implications). The lady-judge addressed some 70 participants from all over the region as they attend the Consultation-Workshop on Violence against Children at the Leyte Park Hotel from October 5-7, 2005.

Based on a survey done by the National Objectives for Health Philippines, citing a number of 2,704 children cases, 86% claimed to receive any form of psychological, physical and sexual abuse, violence or neglect at least once in their lifetime.

The report further added that as a child, 60% reported to be psychologically traumatized, 83% were physically maltreated, 12% were sexually molested, 2% were forced to have sex and 5% felt neglected in terms of basic needs.

The study also cited "carino-brutal", a Filipino Spanish term that literally means "caring- brutal" a term that some Filipinos justify violence against children as a way of disciplining, a sign of caring.

It was also learned that a Brazilian by the name of Paul Pinheiro along with partners World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and Office of the High Commission on Human Rights are now engaged in a research-study on incidents of violence not only in the home but in families, schools and communities. The participants were also informed that children were involved as they themselves provided valuable first hand information. The children were also consulted as to their experiences, idea of discipline, the effects of violence on them, how they wished to be treated and how they think violence can be prevented.

Studies also showed that violence against children does not only take place in the home and within the family but even in works situations, within the community and the streets, those children in conflict with the law, in schools, in alternative care, and in media.