Francia About Abuse and Human Rights
Today we live in a society where our younger ones are not safer anymore. The childhood days are not always as sweet as we expect. We have millions of children living around us in pathetic conditions. What is more pathetic is not recognizing them and saving them from such circumstances.
Today the interview is with Francia Violeta Estacio, an Educator, Writer, and Human Rights Advocate from the Philippines. Let us see her viewpoints on human rights, the system of education, and different forms of child abuse and the ways to overcome them.
Your profile says you are an Educator, Writer, Entrepreneur, and Human Rights Advocate. Who is Francia Violeta Estacio in your terms?
I consider myself as a person who continues to learn, love, and share what I can with the grace and mercy of God transcending on how to serve and value others.
Why did you choose Human Rights? What are your achievements as a human rights advocate?
As a human rights advocate it is a great achievement for me to provide opportunities to juvenile delinquents by initiating skills enhancement and rehabilitation in order for them to change their lives and give hope for a better future and by supporting government initiatives.
Being an educator, have you faced challenges in understanding a child and his or her abilities?
The challenges of being an educator are there in everyday aspects especially when it comes to training the students to be more focused on the present, retain and apply knowledge, and be optimistic no matter how challenging the subjects, situations and circumstances are.
In your opinion what is the best system of education that should be implemented globally?
The system of education that must be implemented must be based on positive values and character development as the primary curricula and differentiated instruction and mastery of hard and soft skills that must be applied in the cycle of life -human, environment, and species.
Are exams a necessary aspect to evaluate a child’s academic excellence?
Written Exams measure definite and specific earned knowledge and certain skills” but not the total package. That’s why Applied skill tests, Social skills, language, and behavioral response must be part of the assessment.
We can see child abuse cases increasing day by day. How can we teach a child what abuse is and what not? And how to save themselves?
Child Abuse has different forms from verbal, physical, psychological, emotional. All of these abuses can be avoided and prevented with proper discipline, education precautions, especially on the part of the parents or guardians of the child. Because every child is so fragile and vulnerable to any type of abuse either within or outside of the household.
The responsibility to protect the child is in the hands of the adults surrounding the child, particularly the parents and followed by the environment where the child lives, plays, and is educated. Communication and presence (time) of parents during childhood ( even lifetime) is crucial for each and every child to be safe.
“Mental health is not valued the way it should be”. Will you agree with this statement?
Mental Health is a serious matter! At present, there’s already a drive for the individual, institution, and the public to properly address mental health but we all need to be part of the solution and care for help.
Social, physical, sexual, addiction in all forms are present not just now but even before and it evolved as society advanced into technology and other forms of progress and difficulties and circumstances.
So, what we need to do is to realize that the fundamental needs of everyone as a human regardless of any revolution and advancement of the society is still the same….our physical needs (healthy food, clean environment, clothing, shelter), psychological needs (peaceful environment, spiritual guidance, education, awareness, affections-verbal/action, and empathy), Emotional needs ( Love, joy, and relationship, etc.) and spiritual needs ( faith, prayer, hope, presence of God as the source of genuine power) are still the same, all we need is to practice what is right, good and lovely for us and for others- problem solved — awareness, support, positive habits, initiative and project involvement of the community and diligent practice!
Sexual/physical/verbal abuse, toxic parenting, drug addiction, are some major issues that children of this period are suffering from. As a teacher how do you think we can create awareness about this?
How to promote awareness for:
A. Sexual, Physical/Verbal Abuse
1. School Symposium & Seminars for students and parents for Child Protection and Violence Against Women and Children.
For Class Discussion we can use the following method:
•Short stories on proper behavior and treatment within the household.
•Emergency response Phone Number
• Sign languages seminars for abuse and calling for help.
2. Parents and Teachers Association (PTA) Programs to promote awareness on Child Abuse.
B. Toxic Parenting Awareness
1. School must conduct training and workshops for
- Smart Parenting
- Laws and Policies regarding Domestic Violence and Abuse
- Agencies to get support from
2. Home visitation method
Home visitation is a big means to know the condition of the students and their families. Many were saved from violence and abuse through home visitation. This is an extra mile for schools and teachers yet a must to protect and help both the children and the parents.
3. School Support System for Families that can be initiated by the PTA
Drug Abuse
National Education Drug Program — the main goal is to promote awareness and protect Children from drug dependence.
Seminars, Programs, and Classroom Activities that promote a healthy lifestyle and good social relationships.
School support teams where students can go for help in case they are experiencing loneliness, bullying, and harmful situations. This program can be managed by school guidance and counseling.
It is important to provide sex education to kids from a younger age. Do you think that the school systems do not support this?
Sex education must be given in a concrete manner. What is being taught in the school is just the production process of how humans are being developed inside the womb then boom nothing more! What we need is a detailed process of teaching…after pregnancy what’s next… teach postnatal traumatic experience, “couple life-changing mode”, finances, support, handling frustration, fatigue during the first-5year of having a baby, educational plan, etc, all aspects from the start of courtship, dates, marriage, building a family must be part of Education.
While concluding, what is the best and worst system you see happening in the Philippines that you want to speak about?
As a citizen of my country with several national leadership being observed ….still, the worst is our fight for corruption where all other problems pour from it…but I am glad that only a few are still doing it.