Caraga law enforcers train on child protection measurers
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY — As the national government continues to uphold and implement significant programs and laws that protect the rights of the vulnerable children, ensuring that justice is both accessible and protective of their dignity, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Caraga region also gears up efforts, initiatives and linkages with partner stakeholders, making its operations more proactive, organized and systematized.
Through the Recovery and Reintegration Program for Trafficked Persons (RRPTP), the DSWD Caraga conducted the third batch training on Videotaped In-depth Disclosure Interview (VIDI) at Go Hotels, Butuan City.
The training was held in partnership with the International Justice Mission (IJM) and key stakeholders.
This five-day intensive training brought together prosecutors, Women and Children Protection Desk (WCPD) officers, social workers from DSWD and local government units, and medical professionals.
Resource persons from IJM, Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center, the Agusan del Norte Women and Children Protection Units, and the Philippine National Police (PNP), Department of Justice (DOJ) Prosecution Office led the break-out sessions.
Assistant Regional Director for Operations (ARDO) Jean Paul Parajes of DSWD Field Office Caraga, revealed that the activity aimed to enhance caseworkers’ competencies in handling sensitive cases of Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC).
“VIDI is a legally sanctioned method that enables trained professionals to conduct recorded interviews with child victims of abuse, reducing the need for repeated testimonies that can cause distress and trauma. The training focused on ensuring that investigations and prosecutions are child-centered, trauma-informed, and aligned with legal standards,” he said.
Further, it was learned that topics covered included forensic interviewing techniques, evidentiary requirements, and the application of child protection laws, such as the Republic Act 11862 or the “Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2022” and the Republic Act 11930 also known as the “Anti-OSAEC and Anti-Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials (CSAEM) Act.”
“This initiative reinforced DSWD Caraga’s commitment to social protection and child welfare. By equipping frontliners with the necessary skills, we aim to create a more compassionate and legally sound approach to addressing OSAEC cases,” Parajes explained.
He also emphasized that such training will reach more law enforcers in the different communities of Caraga, making them well-versed, competent, and responsive in addressing children’s cases.
The children’s core rights as enshrined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights (UNHCR) of the Child, include the rights to survival, development, protection, and participation, encompassing fundamental needs like life, health, education, and the right to be heard. #
The DSWD chairs several committees in the region to include the Regional Committee for the Welfare of Children (RCWC), Regional Inter-Agency Committee Against Trafficking and Violence Against Women and their Children (RIACAT-VAWC), and Regional Inter-Agency Committee on Filipino Family (RIAC-FF), among others. (JPG, PIA Caraga with a report from DSWD Caraga)