Position Paper by the Global March Against Child Labor -- Philippines January 19, 2001 Protecting and upholding the rights of Filipino children has always unified the country amid diverse political and sectoral issues. But today, there is a great political divide walled by claims of guilt and innocence, and chained by blurred perspectives of constitutionality and morality.

We, the members of the Global March Against Child Labor, on the occasion of its 3rd anniversary to end child labor, call for a moment of peace and unity on behalf of our working children.

The impeachment process is a prism of our strengths and weaknesses as a young democracy. From a positive view, it helps us to elaborate on our values as a people. It also continues to enrich our participation in our social transformation. But the wounds of the conflict have resulted into alarming proportions. This historic stage of social change has become an expensive and painful rebirth.

To account for the political and economic casualties of this crossfire, our grassroots experience claim that children are among its first silent victims. The number of child laborers has increased as parents were forced out of work. Many sacrificed their schooling to survive, and many have left their communities to find work and cash. For many, childhood may no longer be the best and sweetest stage of human life. As partners in their communities, we also face daily uncertainties in trying to implement our direct programs and services.

Despite the setback, today we continue to honor our country's recent ratification of International Labor Organization (ILO) Convention 182, which calls for immediate and definite action on the worst forms of child labor. Approving this instrument was a unifying cause of the very institutions involved in the impeachment drama before it started last year. It is the same unity that we call upon today in the face of the effects of the trial.

The movement planned to mobilize some 3,000 children and civil society movers on Saturday, January 20, at the Quezon Memorial Circle but recently decided to postpone it to ensure the children's safety.

In the same spirit of protecting the best interest of children, we will thus take this occasion to remind decision-makers and the public to take into account the future of the millions of working children as we try to find a peaceful resolution of the political crisis.

The actions ahead should nothing be less than steps towards realizing good governance based on truth and justice because it is as equally important as our calls for immediate action on the worst forms of child labor, justice and quality education for all, and for addressing the root causes of poverty.

In conclusion, we believe that relentlessly taking the position towards good governance shapes the inroads to stability. Our moral obligation is not only to this generation but also to the next. We should take into account the future of our children in defining what is for the greater good. By factoring in their best interests, we help our children to be among our lighthouses in strengthening our democracy.