by: Kaye Magno

UN Special Rapporteur on the Sale and Sexual Exploitation of Children, Ms. Mama Fatima Singhateh receives a warm embrace during her visit at the Valenzuela City’s Bahay-Kalinga, recently. Impressed with what she has seen, Ms. Singhateh has taken notes on the good practices on Child Protection of Valenzuela City to be hsared around the world. Recently, Valenzuela City was designated as the 1st Pathfinding City in the world to end the violence against children. (Kaye Magno, Photo/Text)

by: Kaye Magno

After the meeting between the City Government of Valenzuela and the UN Special Rapporteur on the Sale and Sexual Exploitation of Children, Ms. Mama Fatima Singhateh (left) Mayor WES Gatchalian (right) together visited Bahay Kalinga recently. The tour was also attended by (not in the photo) USEC Council for The Welfare of Children, Angelo Tapales, Vice Mayor Lorie Natividad-Borja, Executive Assistant for Social Welfare and Development Dorothy Evangelista, and Child Protection Center head, Kristina Ramos. Mama Fatima’s visit aimed to study the comprehensive Child Protection services in Valenzuela City having the first LGU-run City Child Protection Center in the National Capital Region and third in the Philippines. (Kaye Magno, Photo/Text)

by: Mico Quebrar

Ms. Mama Fatima Singhateh, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Sale and Sexual Exploitation of Children, expressed her gratitude towards Valenzuela City's warm welcome and asked questions to clarify the program provided to the children in the home care facilities and how the government interventions are being carried out during her visit and tour to Valenzuela City half-way homes, recently. All of her inquiries were promptly addressed by Valenzuela city officials, who also provided her with information on how the operation are being carried out and the program's final outcomes. After the meeting, she visited two well-established children's residential care facilities in Valenzuela City, referred to as "Bahay Kalinga" or House of Care and "Bahay "Pag-asa" or House of Hope situated at Barangay Canumay West, Valenzuela City. (Mico Quebrar, Photo/Text)