**1. INTRODUCTION **

Background

In The Gambia, political turmoil following the presidential elections in December 2016 led to an estimated 150,000 internally displaced people (IDP).1 A number of families in communities where ChildFund operates hosted IDPs, taking in an average of six IDPs for almost one month. The additional people strained household resources, prompting ChildFund to plan an emergency response to protect the welfare of children in affected families.

Right now, as policies and procedures surrounding children separated from their families continue to evolve, a major concern has yet to be resolved: the plight of those thousands who remain removed from their parents. ChildFund International is deeply concerned about their wellbeing. We have been working with children and families on both sides of the border for decades, and will apply that unique expertise and insight to assist these children until they can be reunited.

Introduction: Child Protection Minimum Standards and RA 10821 Training Manual

In 2007, the Philippines adopted the humanitarian cluster approach with the issuance of National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) Circular No. 05, s. 2007 (Institutionalization of the Cluster Approach in the Philippine Disaster Management System). Among these thematic structures is the Protection Cluster led by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

We, UN and non-UN entities, re-affirm our determination to prevent future acts of sexual exploitation and abuse by our personnel.

We note the issuance of this Statement at the High-level Conference on Eliminating Sexual Exploitation and Abuse by UN and NGO Personnel on 4 December 2006 in New York, USA and welcome future endorsement of this Statement by others.

Rationale

The Philippines is situated in the Asia Pacific, which is the most disaster-prone region in the world, and considered to be the fourth most vulnerable country to climate change (Global Climate Risk Index, 2013). It is a natural laboratory for floods, typhoons, monsoon rains, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides and armed conflict. Emergencies overwhelm the capacity of people to defend and protect themselves. This can sometimes weaken community protection mechanisms and incapacitate the Government in providing immediate interventions.