AMID the prevalence of crimes involving children in conflict with the law (CICLs) and abuses on minors, the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) will hold the Oplan Sagop Kabataan Summit on November 22 at the Almendras Gym Davao City Recreation Center geared to synergize efforts to save the vulnerable children.
Police Senior Inspector Ma. Teresita Gaspan said on Wednesday, November 8, during a press forum that the activity is in line with the Children's Month where some 500 stakeholders are expected to attend the event initiated by the City Government of Davao.
DCPO is holding this together with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Local Council for the Protection of Children, academe, youth sectors, faith-based and advocates on women and children's rights.
Gaspan said gender-related crimes in Davao City are rising, particularly rape incidents where authorities noted 58 cases in the third quarter of 2017, which is a 7.4 percent hike compared to the same period last year with 54 cases.
She also underscored that these cases are beyond their control considering that these incidents were usually committed inside homes where suspects are usually family members or family friends.
"It is a consultative assembly considering the increasing number of CICL and gender-related crimes in Davao City on what interventions to make to prevent this including education," she said.
They are expanding their advocacy down to the barangay level as part of their Oplan Iron Fortress (Fortification of Residences towards a Restful Environment that is Secured and Safe) to educate the parents and stakeholders to protect the children who are vulnerable to this cases.
The Kinder Cop project will also be launched. The cops on children and women's desk, as well as social workers, will be trained in educating the children from kinder to elementary. These children will be taught on "good touch" and "bad touch" so that they will avoid rape cases.