71 join forum on domestic adoption, alternative childcare

Some seventy one employees of the city government and partner agencies and institutions recently joined the two-day Forum on Domestic Adoption and Alternative Childe Care, Expanded Anti-trafficking In Persons Act, Anti-Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children and Anti-Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials Act at a hotel along Quezon Hill last July 11-12, 2024.

The conduct of this forum was in relation to the observance of the 2024 national Adoption Month with the theme “A New Era in Adoption and Alternative Care.”

The activity was aimed at providing clearer context about adoption, documentary requirements and processes and to increase the awareness of the participants on the prevention of elicit practices to combat illegal adoption, trafficking against persons and online sexual abuse against children.

The participants were members of the Local Council for the Protection of Children (LCPC), Men Opposed to Violence Against Women Everywhere (MOVE) and Gender and Development (GAD) Focal Point System.

In her message, City Social Welfare and Development Officer Liza Bulayungan said that the topics of the forum were timely because in the city, there are reported cases related to violence against women, trafficking in persons, child sexual exploitation, child abandonment and foundling among others.

“We do have a common ground and that is all of us are service providers working for the best interest and welfare of women and children sectors in the city,” Bulayungan stressed.

Further, she pointed out that it is but necessary for the members and officers of the key committees to be capacitated and learn new trends related to the sectors they are working for, citing that one of the observations made during the assessment of the functionality of the Local Council Against Trafficking and Violence Against Women and Children (LCAT-VAWC) is the alleged lack of trainings attended by the committee members.

She said that it is heart warming to see people and communities come together to celebrate Adoption Week and provide permanent homes and loving families to abandoned, neglected, and surrendered children and in creating a society that is free from any forms of violence and trafficking in persons. Dexter A. See