Filipina teen among three child advisors chosen to participate developing a child-friendly version of UNCRC in Geneva

Filipina teen Zcyrel Barola flew to Geneva, Switzerland after she was chosen as one of three child advisors to participate in developing a child-friendly version of the United Nations Convention on the Rights (UNCRC) of the Child.

Zcyrel, who hails from Donsol Sorsogon, presented her plans on September 16, at a UN event commemorating the 30th anniversary of the UNCRC.

Barola said she wants children "to read the UNCRC and realize that it's for them. Once you're aware of your rights, you can claim them and protect yourself."

She joined two other child delegates from Mexico and Canada.

In an email interview with GMA News Online, Barola said she started learning about children's rights when she began working with Educo on child-friendly local governance projects in the Bicol Region.

Educo is a non-government organization with a focus on global development and humanitarian action that accompanied Barola to Geneva.

"I wouldn’t know that there’s a separate convention on the rights of the child," Barola told GMA News Online. "And, because of this, I wanted to familiarize it because I have seen its importance and impact not just in our lives as children but to the people around us as well." 

According to the 17-year-old Filipina, she plans to use her own story to empower her fellow children to learn more about their rights. 

"The first thing I would do is share my own personal experience of how I became a child leader and child rights advocate; inspire them with stories of being brave, of voicing out your thoughts to achieve your goals," she said.  "I think the first step to making children participate is to teach and show them how."

According to Educo Asia Regional Communications Coordinator April Sumaylo-Tesz, Barola and other youth representatives from other countries plan to make the UNCRC more understandable for children by using icons and by simplifying words.

Even before participating in Geneva, Barola has been busy with projects serving the children of the Philippines.

Apart from serving as president of the Donsol Children’s Federation, Barola has also taken part in the national plan of action for children. She participates in national children's conferences, bringing up issues from her communities and actively participating in advocacy campaigns against issues like violence against children, lowering the minimum age of criminal responsibility, cyber safety, teenage pregnancy and the promotion of child-friendly local governance.

Barola is not planning to slow down with her advocacy.

"As of now, my main goal is to let the children not just in my country but across borders, religions, cultures, races, and genders know and recognize their rights," she said. "With this, a child would be empowered to protect themselves against harm and [will help them] grow to reach their full potential, just like me."

Barola said it's a goal and an advocacy that she would want to grow with.

"This goal is a goal I would bring with me even as I grow older. As long as a child is born, I will keep serving and moving forward," Barola said. — LA, GMA News