Child Protection Network
The Child Protection Network Foundation or CPN is a non-government organization with expertise on the prevention and treatment of child abuse. CPN’s work centers on increasing the accessibility of services for abused children in the Philippines. It plays a crucial role in the establishment of Women and Children Protection Units (WCPUs) in DOH-retained and LGU-assisted/supported hospitals and training of competent multidisciplinary teams. A WCPU is synonymous to a “safe haven”, a place where an abused child comes not only to seek medical intervention but also to receive other services that facilitate recovery from trauma and stigmatization. A safe haven for abused children can be achieved with a combination of competent, compassionate, non-threatening medical and psychosocial staff and a welcoming, safe, and child-friendly space. All WCPUs follow a common protocol and standards on the management of abuse cases to avoid retraumatization. The WCPUs implement best practices sharing, round table discussions, and peer reviews on a regular basis. With the support from different organizations, establishing at least one (1) Women and Children Protection Unit (WCPU) in all provinces of the country can be attained. There are currently 115 WCPUs in 59 provinces and 10 independent cities and more than 98,000 children and adolescents have been served.
CPN’s work extends to training the frontliners in the field of child protection such as judges, prosecutors, social workers, and police officers. Its holistic work is groundbreaking and well respected in the Philippines and in the Asian region. CPN has received international recognition and has been consistent in instituting trailblazing programs and accomplishing its goals in the field of child protection.
CPN has also partnered with leading universities around the world for research such as University of Cambridge, Oxford University, Cape Town University, and University of Edinburgh. This has resulted in better services and expansion of existing services. The WCPUs are a pathway for scaling up evidence-based practices.
Vision
“All children in the Philippines and throughout Asia are protected from abuse and neglect.”
Mission
The Asian Center for Child Protection in collaboration with all Child Protection Units shall serve every abused child with compassion and competence ensuring that all abused children and children at risk are safe, healthy and developing to the best of their potential within a nurturing family environment.
Our guiding principles are
- Excellence: We strive for the highest standards, guided by evidence in research, experience in the frontlines and evaluation of programs.
- Integrity and accountability: We are guided in all actions by the highest standards of conduct and the code of ethics of our professions.
- Collaboration: We actively seek out partnerships with government and non-government organizations as well as individuals who share our mission.
- Leadership: We provide leadership to advance the field of child protection in both the science and the service.
- Humility: We respect every individual and lead with humility; with a willingness to learn and accept what we don’t know and putting the best interest of the child above all other interests.
Registration and Accreditation
CPN is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and accredited by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Philippine Council for NGO Certification (PCNC).
Vision
“All children in the Philippines and throughout Asia are protected from abuse and neglect.”
Mission
The Asian Center for Child Protection in collaboration with all Child Protection Units shall serve every abused child with compassion and competence ensuring that all abused children and children at risk are safe, healthy and developing to the best of their potential within a nurturing family environment.
Our guiding principles are
- Excellence: We strive for the highest standards, guided by evidence in research, experience in the frontlines and evaluation of programs.
- Integrity and accountability: We are guided in all actions by the highest standards of conduct and the code of ethics of our professions.
- Collaboration: We actively seek out partnerships with government and non-government organizations as well as individuals who share our mission.
- Leadership: We provide leadership to advance the field of child protection in both the science and the service.
- Humility: We respect every individual and lead with humility; with a willingness to learn and accept what we don’t know and putting the best interest of the child above all other interests.
Registration and Accreditation
CPN is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and accredited by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Philippine Council for NGO Certification (PCNC).
Board of Trustees
David G. Bradley
Chairman
Justice Ameurfina A. Melencio-Herrera
Chair Emeritus
Irene Martel-Francisco
President
2022 Ramon Magsaysay Awardee – Philippines (Children’s Rights Crusader)
by the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation
2022 Ramon Magsaysay Awardee – Philippines (Children’s Rights Crusader)
by the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation
2021 Most Outstanding Pediatrician of the Year
by the Philippine Pediatric Society Inc.
2021 Most Outstanding Pediatrician of the Year
by the Philippine Pediatric Society Inc.
2012 Outstanding Service Awardee (Child Protective Services)
by the National Children’s Advocacy Center, USA
2012 Outstanding Service Awardee (Child Protective Services)
by the National Children’s Advocacy Center, USA
Message from the Executive Director
Our goal is to have at least one Child Protection Unit or Women and Children Protection Unit in every province in the Philippines. We are very near that goal. The remaining provinces without a WCPU are mainly in Luzon and Mindanao. With the inclusion of Child Protection in the Pediatric residency training program and Women and Child Protection in the Obstetrics & Gynecology residency training program, there is also demand for training from private hospitals. We are pleased to announce that there are 3 new training centers: Baguio General Hospital in Luzon, Vicente Sotto Memorial Hospital in the Visayas and Southern Philippines Medical Center in Mindanao. Our efforts will be doubled to reach all 81 provinces within the next 5 years. This is one of the major contributions of CPN to the Philippine Plan of Action to End Violence Against Children. The WCPU is a delivery system for multidisciplinary services that has a nationwide reach. It is the response system for all forms of abuse including victims of trafficking and online child sexual abuse and exploitation.
Bernadette J. Madrid, MD
Executive Director
History
- A collaborative project between the University of the Philippines Manila and the Advisory Board Foundation (nowCitybridge Foundation)
- Committed to closing service gaps, the initial focus was on the medical and psychosocial components; the hospital being a natural entry point for many children who are in the process of healing and recovery. PGH-CPU is the first multidisciplinary center in the Philippines providing comprehensive and coordinated medical and psychosocial services for victims of child abuse and neglect
