NDFP Declaration and Program of Action for the Rights, Protection and Welfare of Children

 

Preamble

The National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) hereby reaffirms the rights of children and resolves to carry out a program of action for the protection and welfare of children within the framework of the Guide for Establishing the People's Democratic Government (1972) and the 1996 NDFP Unilateral Declaration of Undertaking to Apply the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and Protocol I of 1977 and in accordance with the principles and policies enunciated by the NDFP as well as with the just and applicable provisions of international conventions pertinent to the rights and welfare of children.

The NDFP proclaims this Declaration and Program of Action within the framework of its political authority defined as follows:
 

The National Democratic Front of the Philippines stands for and carries the authority of the people's democratic government consisting of organs of political power in substantial parts all over the Philippines. It is the united front organization of all revolutionary forces of the Filipino people fighting for national independence and democracy. It includes the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) as the leading party in the aforesaid government, the New People's Army (NPA) as its armed force, and various mass organizations of workers, peasants, women, youth, professionals and other sectors.
 

There is dual state power in the Philippines. One state power is represented by the Manila-based reactionary government (Government of the Philippines or GPH, formerly designated as GRP) of big compradors and landlords. The other is represented by the rural-based revolutionary government of workers and peasants, which has its own Constitution and Guide for Establishing the People's Democratic Government. The two contending states or governments are co-belligerent forces in a civil war, which has characteristics of both a non-international and an international armed conflict. However, they have agreed since 1992 to engage in peace negotiations within the framework of The Hague Joint Declaration and have forged other important bilateral and binding agreements.
 

In accordance with Article 1, paragraph 4 in relation to Article 96, paragraph 3 of the 1977 Protocol 1 Additional to the 1949 Geneva Conventions, the NDFP issued the Declaration of Undertaking to Apply the said Geneva Conventions and Protocol 1 on 5 July 1996 and submitted it to the proper depositary, the Swiss Federal Council on the same date. By proclaiming the said Declaration, the NDFP has assumed rights and duties under Protocol 1, on top of those provided for under common Article 3 of the 1949 Geneva Conventions and under its Protocol 2.