Law Summary
Statement of Policy
- Reaffirms the child's right to education regardless of armed conflict situation.
- Emphasizes the education sector's role in protecting both learners and school personnel.
- Advocates continued education during armed conflicts and strict prevention of school use for military purposes or attacks.
Scope of Policy
- Applies to DepEd personnel at all levels (central, regional, divisional), school heads, teaching and non-teaching staff.
- Covers learners in both public and private elementary, secondary schools, and alternative learning centers.
Guiding Principles: Learners as Zones of Peace
- Upholds the human rights of children, protecting them from abuse, violence, neglect, cruelty, and discrimination.
- Emphasizes the best interest of the child, respecting their dignity and unique development needs.
- Recognizes children's rights in conflict including:
- Survival and development in a secure, stable environment.
- Protection from recruitment or use in armed conflict.
- The right to a peaceful childhood.
- Protection from physical and psychological harm.
- Assistance, recovery, family reunification, and relief prioritization.
- Expression of views and peace even in conflict.
- Guarantees protection under international treaties ratified by the Philippines and domestic laws.
Definition of Grave Child Rights Violations (GCRVs)
- Killing and maiming of children, including acts causing death or permanent debilitating injuries.
- Recruitment and use of children by armed forces or groups in any capacity.
- Rape and grave sexual violence as defined by applicable laws including the Anti-Rape Law.
- Abduction encompassing kidnapping, hostage-taking, illegal detention for exploitation.
- Attacks on schools and hospitals involving unlawful occupation, shelling, destruction, or disruption.
- Denial of humanitarian access by force or administrative barriers affecting affected populations' right to aid.
- Humanitarian access and assistance are framed within impartiality, neutrality, and independence principles.
Monitoring, Reporting, and Response System (MRRS)
- Established under Executive Order No. 138 as the monitoring mechanism of the Children in Armed Conflict Program.
- Coordinated by the Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC), the system seeks to prevent GCRVs and ensure timely response.
- DepEd's role includes gathering, reporting, monitoring incidents, and providing education interventions.
Reporting Mechanism
- School officials and personnel with knowledge of GCRVs must report incidents within 24 hours.
- Reports are directed to the MRRS managed by the Council for the Welfare of Children.
- Contact details include landlines, mobile numbers, and email for accessibility.
- Reports must also be furnished to the DepEd Regional Office and the Office of the Undersecretary for Legal Affairs.
Reporting Form Requirements
- Reports must include:
- Identity of the reporting party and agency.
- Source of information about the incident.
- Date, time, and location of the incident.
- Number and demographics (gender, age) of children affected.
- Names of children involved if available.
- Identification of armed group or forces involved.
- A brief description of the incident.
Miscellaneous Provisions
- Separability Clause: Invalidity of any provision does not affect the rest of the Order.
- Repealing Clause: This Order supersedes Department Memorandum No. 221, s. 2013 and any inconsistent issuances.
- Effectivity: The Order takes effect immediately upon issuance.