LETTER OF APPEAL FOR THE PROTECTION OF AND JUSTICE FOR THE CHILDREN ALLEGEDLY ABUSED AND EXPLOITED BY ITALIAN AMBASSADOR TO TURKMENISTAN DANIELE BOSIO 26 April 2014 Iligan City We, the undersigned human rights and child rights groups who are members of the KALITAWHAN Network and its partner organizations, express our support to the three boy children, ages 9, 10 and 12 years old, who filed charges for violation of Republic Act 7610 (or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act) and Republic Act 9208 (or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act) against Italian Ambassador to Turkmenistan Daniele Bosio last 6 April 2014. We express our support to Bahay Tuluyan, ECPAT, the Child Protection Unit of the Philippine General Hospital and other child rights organizations who vigilantly and with great commitment provided assistance to the children in filing the case which is consistent to their mandate as a child rights organizations. We call on the concerned government agencies, representing the Philippine government as State Party to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child to consistently comply with its commitment to protect children’s rights, as follows: For the Department of Social Welfare and Development to ensure that the three children and their families are provided with adequate support and a safe environment to ensure that they continue to have interest to pursue the legal proceedings that have been initiated. For the Department of Justice to: Ensure that the prosecution of the case in the concerned court is handled with speed and integrity by impartial lawyers and that the judge oversees that all proceedings are child-sensitive and take into consider the best interests of the children. Provide the children victims and witnesses with the support necessary, including witness protection as needed, to ensure that justice takes its full course. Ensure that the defendant is treated fairly, but at the same time, not given any special treatment as a result of his status or position as diplomat. For the media to: Allow justice to take its course and avoid the temptation to try or prejudge the case in the media. Protect the identities and confidentiality of the children victims. For the Philippine government to: Ensure that all government officials involved in similar cases to adhere to child protection policies and standards and respond swiftly to allegations of child abuse. We laud the Italian government through its Foreign Ministry for expeditiously suspending Ambassador Bosio from his diplomatic post. We hope that the Philippine government would equally show its commitment for an impartial and due process in the prosecution of the case. On behalf of the Kalitawhan Network: Ms. Cristina Lomoljo Convener National Coordinating Group
Posted on: Tue, 13 May 2014 02:20:12 +0000
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