The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on Monday issued a Human Rights Advisory calling for urgent and sustained action to protect the rights and well-being of children affected by armed conflict, emphasizing that “safeguarding children is not optional, but a legal and moral obligation.”

Despite efforts to reduce the humanitarian impact of internal armed conflicts, the CHR warns that children remain among the most vulnerable.

Many continue to suffer displacement, interrupted education, loss of healthcare access, psychological trauma, and the threat of recruitment and exploitation by armed groups.

The advisory, titled Protecting the Rights of Children Affected in Situations of Armed Conflict, highlights persistent gaps in the implementation of Republic Act No. 11188 or the Special Protection of Children in Situations of Armed Conflict Act.

“It provides an in-depth analysis of these persistent challenges and underscores the gaps in systematic reporting, monitoring, and rehabilitation for affected children,” the CHR said.

These also include a lack of comprehensive data, limited access to conflict areas, and a shortage of dedicated care facilities for rescued or displaced children.

While the Philippines’ recent removal from the UN Secretary-General’s Annual Report on Children and Armed Conflict in 2025 is a significant achievement, the CHR cautions that this progress must be sustained through continued vigilance and action.

“However, the commitment to prevent grave child rights violations and maintain international compliance must be sustained,” the Commission stated.

Hence, the CHR recommends strengthening the monitoring and reporting system under the Inter-Agency Committee on Children in Situations of Armed Conflict to ensure the timely and accurate documentation of grave child rights violations.

It likewise calls for the establishment of dedicated child-caring facilities for rescued or separated children, equipped with trained personnel and tailored rehabilitation programs to address their unique needs.

The CHR also underscored the importance of upholding international humanitarian law, which strictly prohibits the recruitment and use of children in armed conflict.

“Even when children are found to have participated in hostilities, they must be treated not as combatants but as victims entitled to rehabilitation, not punishment,” it noted.

CHR said it recognizes the unfortunate reality that, despite clear prohibitions under international humanitarian law (IHL), children continue to be unlawfully recruited or used in hostilities.

“While some may have directly participated in armed conflict, IHL and human rights law affirm that they are entitled to special respect and protection, including prioritizing their release, demobilization, and rehabilitation, not their prosecution as combatants, in line with upholding the best interest of the child,” it added.

The CHR reaffirmed its commitment to work with government agencies, civil society, and international partners to strengthen the protection of children and ensure that no child bears the burden of war.