Violence vs. children up

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Editor GUILLERMO TEJIDA III Desk Editor NANETTE L. GUADALQUIVER Busines Editor CEDELF P. TUPAS Sports Editor (On Leave) RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

The Commission on Human Rights in Negros Oriental has reported an increase in complaints about human rights violations received by its office in 2007 that is quite alarming.

Most reported complaints were about violence against women and children. Majority of the cases involved children who were victims of incest that almost always happened in far-flung rural areas or barangays in the provinces. As for the cases of violence against women, they mostly involved rape, physical injuries and trafficking.

Negros Oriental CHR Special Investigator, Jesus Cañete, noted that there are now more opportunities or circumstances for abuses to take place, but said the rise in cases of abuse against women and children is not alarming, and is just a trend.

We believe that these problems can be resolved and addressed by various local government units in the province. Yet, it seems that the many committees formed in the province are simply incompatible with actual conditions and with the demands of their member-agencies.

We believe there is merit in recommendations of the CHR investigator that those assigned to act on these cases, should be permanent personnel who can make decisions without going through the usual red tape. And also, that more funding for these committees that directly address other problems of victims such as transportation and personal necessities be made available to enable them to help more.*