Video Animation Series on CiSS

Communicating and raising public awareness on who the Children in Street Situations (CiSS) are and their issues is a vital component of effective CiSS intervention. To this end, the Street Children NGO Support Project (SNSP) in collaboration with the Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC)’s Subcommittee for the Welfare and Protection of Children in Street Situations created and launched a video animation series tackling different aspects of the CiSS phenomenon. 

 

The series consists of four independent episodes that tackled key concepts on CiSS to give an overview and effectively introduce the topic: (1) Who are CiSS; (2) Ways of Guiding CiSS; (3) Proper handling of CiSS; and (4) Plans for CiSS. 

 

Video 1 focused on explaining who are considered as CiSS and why. It expounded on circumstances surrounding the CiSS – how poverty and abuse in their homes brought many of them to the streets; how some of them work, beg or sell on the streets for sustenance; how, for some, the streets is the home for their entire family, while others have a house and are actually studying; and how some are deprived of even their birth certificate. The video also debunked some myths about CiSS, such as that all of them are orphans or are criminals. 

 

Video 2 put a spotlight on guiding the CiSS and caring for them. It details the possible abuses the children may suffer – including physical, sexual, emotional, and psychological abuse – and how these can be inflicted not just by strangers, but even from family or the authorities. The video explored how physical abuse comes in the form of bodily harm; sexual abuse happens through sexual acts either face-to-face or online; emotional abuse occurs when the child’s feelings are controlled or hurt, including discrimination and stigma; while mental or psychological abuse involves repeated threats to the child and making them feel alone, worthless and unworthy of love and care. Video 2 also touches on the need to extend urgent help and care under these circumstances, and what the proper steps are in reporting instances of child rights violations.

 

Video 3 delved more on the proper handling of CiSS, especially during interventions. It explained cases of CiSS needing help that should be reported – such as victims of abuse, exploitation, bodily harm, curfew-related arrest, CiSS at detention facilities, children supporting their families, and child laborers. It also expounded how anyone can report cases, but there are only select authorities and accredited residential facilities that have the mandate to provide services. A key part of the video was the discussion on the Protocol to Reach Out to Street Children and how some vague provisions open the door to child rights violations during interventions. The video went on to discuss how, given the situation, CWC, NGOs, government agencies, and other stakeholders came together to come up with a clear and comprehensive guide vis-a-vis the Protocol.  

 

Video 4 discussed the plans for CiSS and elaborated mainly on the Philippine National Multi-Sectoral Plan for CiSS for 2021-2025, the first national plan for CiSS, that was signed in April 2021. It went further to explain how the plan spans several goals/anticipated results: (1) alleviate the condition of hundreds of thousands of CiSS; (2) eradicate discrimination and stigma against CiSS through an information campaign and various programs honing their talents; (3) provide better conditions and quality of life with access to healthcare, education, and rehabilitation services; and (4) strengthen policies and mechanisms to protect CiSS against any and all forms of violence, abuse and exploitation. Towards the end, the video calls for collective action and interdependent 

 

The video series was launched just in time for the celebration of the National Children’s Month on November 24, 2021, together with CWC. Here is a link to the series.