The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is finalizing updated protocols to improve the protection of children in situations of armed conflict (CSAC), aiming to shield them from abuse, violence, and neglect. The revisions are in line with Republic Act 11188, or the Special Protection of Children in Situations of Armed Conflict Act.
Undersecretary Alan Tanjusay of the DSWD’s Peace and Development Group said the updated CSAC protocol is still under review but is expected to significantly aid frontline social workers and local welfare officers in implementing RA 11188. The changes reflect the agency’s commitment to strengthening services without compromising quality.
As part of its Peace and Development Buong Bansa Mapayapa (PDBBM) Program, the DSWD has also created a Social Healing Unit. This new unit will integrate Restorative Justice into CSAC case management and develop policies that promote the holistic rehabilitation of conflict-affected children.
In 2024, the Inter-Agency Committee on CSAC helped 763 children affected by armed conflict, including 314 who were internally displaced and four directly involved in conflict. The four children recruited by the New People’s Army have since been reunited with their families and are receiving further support in Northern Mindanao.
“These initiatives reaffirm the agency’s commitment to protecting children in armed conflict zones through direct interventions and strengthened support systems,” Tanjusay said.