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Monday, June 19, 2006
Oledan: Promises
By Radzini Oledan
Slice of Life
CHILDREN first. This bias puts into perspective what all peace and development efforts on the ground prioritize and put children on top of the agenda.
However, development movers have yet to translate such framework into reality. Interventions are always justified to be for the best interest of children but rarely, if ever, are they consulted on plans and programs that profess to serve their welfare.
Mainstreamed in these programs are the interest of adult "peace movers" and other development experts who continue to define and prescribe solutions to the human security problems confronting our communities today.
In the arena of child protection for instance, much emphasis (and funding) is given to children affected by the armed conflict. Nowhere is this reality more real than here in Mindanao where the young populace bear the brunt of what has become regular displacement and militarization.
Children come close in the picture especially in the rehabilitation and reconstruction effort, portrayed as victims of the war. They are readily identified as beneficiaries of food assistance or as a convenient accessory for photo-ops of national and local officials promising, as they always do, for an end to hostilities in the southern part of the island.
Under this framework is the promise for an integrated delivery of social services- food security, livelihood programs, education and health care to combat poverty and reduce the incidence of recruitment and exploitation of children in conflict areas.
Yet, most of the war ravaged communities in Mindanao and especially in the Armm areas have the lowest number in socio-political indicators such as health, education and participatory mechanisms.
These communities are stuck in a dehumanizing condition that profoundly impact on children and women.
These are the same vulnerable groups whose capacity in peace and development work remains unrecognized.
More than being made as passive recipients of assistance from donor organizations, children, when tapped and given ample opportunity may play an important role in building peace.
Children have a tremendous capacity for empathy and tolerance, the necessary attributes of a peace-builder. Providing with the opportunity to develop the skills and attitudes of a peace builder would enable them to develop a sense of social responsibility and justice.
This may work on two ways. One is to focus on children affected in war torn communities and the other is to reach out to those who are indirectly affected by the atrocities and who may not even be aware of the realities and devastation caused by conflicts that are often glamorized on the television.
Sensitizing the community would enable the systematic inclusion of all children's issues in peace negotiations. This move would challenge traditional peace negotiators to also open themselves to listen to what children think and say on their situation.
Otherwise, the declaration of Children as Zones of Peace will remain as lip service much like the previous commitments to prioritize health and education. The social consequences are too glaring to ignore.
For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (June 19, 2006 issue)
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