On the occasion of its eight year, Batang Pinangga launched “AYAW ” an active campaign to stop child abuse. “AYAW” is a Visayan dialect, which means “Don’t”. Several fora were conducted to increase awareness and participation of individuals on the issue, giving particular attention to the children in the communities who are most vulnerable. Panelists from the offices of the Philippine National Police, Municipal Social Welfare and Development, school administration, and the barangay council participated in the campaign launched in the following areas:

AYAW-Spread the Language
Respect Child’s Right, Stop Child Abuse
Ayaw. Don’t. No.
It is a language we all understand.
A refusal. A strong plea to stop.
Ayaw. An innocent call for help.

Facts tell us of the bitter stories of children victims of abuse.
We come face to face with them on our way to work, or to our office, to our cars, to school, and back to our homes.
They are in our neighborhood. And we wonder how their number is increasing each day.

Psychologists define child abuse as the failure to provide for the child’s basic needs for survival: food, shelter, clothing, education, health care and all the support and guidance the child needs as he/she grows into adulthood, which includes his developmental rights, rights to protection and participation. The United Nations Convention on Child’s Rights confirmed this.

Recent reports have indicated another disturbing reality. Abuse happens at home. It does not happen just now. It already happened then. In her book, “Path to Healing”, Dr. Lourdes Carandang, a psychologist, shared a study result stating that abuse is intergenerational. Abuse becomes inherited.

Ayaw. Don’t let this continue. Let us cut the pattern of abuse.

Create child-friendly spaces. Make our homes, our streets, and our neighborhood safe for children.

Let us do something to help the rural poor. Create jobs in the provinces.
Let us do something so that the poor children can go to school.
Let us do something so that the poor can have access to medical and dental care.

Ayaw. Don’t just give your loose coins.
Share your skills. Participate. Educate.
Ayaw. Don’t be a victim. Be a protector.
Be a caring community.
Ayaw. Don’t be passive. Create your own volunteer-action group. Start your mission.
Ayaw. Spread the language.