Arts and fun run for children's rights

Arts and fun run for children’s rights

MANILA – Child rights advocates and children ran in commemoration of the National Children’s Month last Oct. 16, Sunday, in Quezon City Memorial Circle. Dubbed as “Run for Children’s Rights”, the fun run featured runners waving flaglets with messages concerning children’s rights and issues.

Organized by Salinlahi Alliance for Children’s Concern, the fun run and the other activities held to mark the children’s month raised the following children’s problems: the continuing trend of branding children victims of human rights violation as child soldiers, violence against children, inadequate budget for universal kindergarten and problematic implementation of the Juvenile Justice Welfare.

While the fun run was ongoing, a visual art workshop was also held. Younger children nine years old and below from various communities in Metro Manila took part in the art workshop. Their finished artwork served as prizes to the winning runners.

Some 100 child rights advocates with shirts saying “Child rights advocate ako” joined the fun run which covered three kilometers and five kilometers. For kids 10 to 13 years old, they ran a half-kilometer distance.

“Physical stamina and endurance were not the main requirements in the fun run. This was also intended to be an early morning solidarity for the children’s welfare. This time we are calling attention to the problems of the Filipino children through a fun and creative activity,” said Melissa F. San Miguel, spokeswoman of Salinlahi. She added that the advocates and children may have completed the day’s fun run, but the race for the welfare and protection of children’s rights is set on a much longer course.”