PPS's Position Statement on the Jan-Jan Suan's Dancing Incident (Uploaded 4/19/11)

April 29, 2011

This statement is in response to the incident of a six year old boy who was subjected to ridicule and humiliation on a reality primetime show after dancing like a stripper on television. There had been several clamors and enquiries if the child’s right was violated or an abuse was incurred. The DSWD and Commission on Human Rights are already acting and completing their reports on this to be submitted to the Department of Justice. With this incident the guidelines on the protection of children’s rights need to be revisited.

Under Article 19 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), the most widely adopted human rights treaty in the world, it states that:

· Children must be protected from all forms of physical or mental violence, injury or abuse, neglect or negligent treatment, maltreatment or exploitation, including sexual abuse, while in the care of parent(s), legal guardian(s) or any other person who has the care of the child.

· The CRC also provides for prevention and for identification, reporting, referral, investigation, treatment and follow-up of instances of child maltreatment described heretofore, and, as appropriate, for judicial involvement.

It is clearly stated under Section 10 of Republic Act 7610, or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act:

· (a) Any person who shall commit any other acts of child abuse, cruelty or exploitation or to be responsible for other conditions prejudicial to the child’s development including those covered by Article 59 of Presidential Decree No. 603, as amended, but not covered by the Revised Penal Code, as amended, shall suffer the penalty of prison mayor in its minimum period

In the Kapisanan ng mga Broadkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) Broadcast Code of 2007, Article 11 on Children’s Programs and Welfare provides for:

The airing of programs that would help children to develop to their full physical and mental and social potential shall be encouraged.
Programs shall not depict inappropriate sexual subjects or violent actions
No material that are physically, mentally, morally and psychologically harmful to children shall be aired.

This despicable incident calls for a nationwide campaign for awareness on children’s rights, to educate the public especially the parents, not to treat children as mere commodities and use them to earn any amount of money in doing so. The networks hence the media in general, as well as everyone, including pediatricians and child advocates should be more vigilant of their responsibility to protect human right particularly given their distinctive and vast power to persuade society.

The PHILIPPINE PEDIATRIC SOCIETY, INC. condemns such act and concurs with the earlier statements of DSWD, the Commission on Human Rights, and other various organizations that the rights of Jan-Jan as a child were violated in this incident.