No less than the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child has lauded the Philippines as a pioneer in advancing children's rights and in implementing the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

In a recent engagement with UNCRC in Geneva, Switzerland, independent human rights experts cited the country for its efforts to increase resources allocated for children's rights and policies.

Hynd Ayoubi Idrissi, a Moroccan doctor who is a member of the 18-strong UNCRC, praised the Philippines' efforts to promote children's participation through the publication, application, and updating of the "Children's guidebook on child participation in the Philippines".

UNCRC member Clarence Nelson said the committee is very pleased to hear the progress the Philippines has made in passing various legislations, concerning child marriage, rape, sexual exploitation, and abuses, especially online abuse.

"We are very happy to hear the Philippines has increased the age of statutory rape of children from 12 to 16 and all these other measures put in place," said Nelson, a Samoan judge and juvenile justice advocate.

Idrissi and Nelson are members of the task force designated by the UNCRC, chaired by Mikiko Otani of Japan, to raise issues on the Philippines' implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

The task force also lauded the Philippines for its efforts to increase resources allocated for children's rights and child policies, noting the improvements in the data collection system, increase of the budget of the Commission on Human Rights, establishment of a 24/7 helpline for children, and the acceptance of audio-visual recording of statements of child victims in court procedures, among others.

Other members of the task force are Benyam Mezmut of Ethiopia and Anne Marie Skelton of South Africa.

With Undersecretary Angelo Tapales, Council for the Welfare of Children executive director, heading the Philippine delegation are Ambassador Evan Garcia, permanent representative of the Philippine Permanent Mission to the UN in Geneva, and Undersecretary Severo Catura, executive director of the Presidential Human Rights Committee Secretariat.