14/09/2026
Prevention starts in infancy, not adolescence.
During the recent 2026 Asia-Pacific Partnership Meeting of Child Rights Coalitions and Networks (APPM), Dr. Francis Xavier M. Dimalanta, MD, FPPS, FPSDBP, FAAP, A Child's DREAM Foundation Inc. Founder & Medical Director, shared a powerful reminder: youth violence and behavioral crises do not happen overnight.
When children cause serious harm, they are very frequently victims of systemic, domestic, or environmental trauma themselves.
To break this cycle, we must shift from purely punitive measures to early intervention, mental health support, and positive parenting during a child's earliest years.
This year's theme, "Together Beyond Crisis: Sustaining Safe and Supportive Environments for Children's Rights," organized by Child Rights Coalition Asia (CRC Asia), reminds us of our collective duty to act across 4 critical pillars:
Care Reform – Strengthening family-based care over institutions.
Juvenile Justice – Centering youth perspectives in legal reforms.
Digital Spaces – Protecting minors online from exploitation.
Meaningful Participation – Turning youth voices into actionable state policies.Let’s look beyond the crisis and build safer spaces for our children.
