Valley sets anti child abuse week

THE Sangguniang Bayan of La Trinidad approved on Tuesday an ordinance setting the observance of the prevention of child sexual abuse and exploitation every second week of February.

The law dubbed as the ‘La Trinidad Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Awareness Week’ has called on the citizenry to report any case of child sexual abuse in order programs and services can be made available and accessible to the victim.

Councilor Roderick Awingan, author of the ordinance said that there is a need to raise the awareness of the public on the extent and magnitude of the problem.

“Child sexual abuse is a social reality in the country and constitutes one of the profound violations of the rights of children and it is the most underreported form of abuse due to its highly sensitive nature,”Awingan said.

Awingan continued occurrence of the problem of child sexual abuse can be prevented with a deliberate and systematic information, education and communication activity.

The Child Abuse Prevention Intervention Network (CAPIN) of La Trinidad will act as the steering committee to organized and spearhead the different programs, projects and

activities.

During the awareness week, activities will include the annual prevention of child sexual abuse and gathering of all stakeholders tackling all issues and concern on the prevention of child sexual abuse in the municipality.

Moreover, a congress, training of service providers in handling child sexual abuse and exploitation, information education campaign, establishment of a Child Protection Unit (CPU) and other programs and activities approved by the steering committee will also be part of the weeklong observance.

La Trinidad Municipal Social Welfare Development Office recorded since 2011, there are 42 reported cases of child abuse, 108 cases in 2012, 130 cases in 2013, 136 cases in 2014, 113 cases in 2015, 92 cases in 2016 and 53 cases from January to June 2017.