A special programme to lend a helping hand to undocumented children of Filipino women in Bahrain to return home is slowly gaining momentum.
It aims to tackle the problem of children born out of wedlock to Filipino women in Bahrain, and help them reunite with their families.
The Philippines Embassy launched last year the Oplan Kabataan (Cause for the Youth) Project with an aim to assist in the repatriation of several undocumented children and help them come out of the hidden shame.
Ambassador Alfonso Ver said they have repatriated 10 minors since the inception of the programme, with plans still on track to cover these special cases despite facing restrictions due to Covid-19.
The diplomat highlighted the plight of some of these children who never attended school and did not have birth certificates or a valid visa as they continued to live anonymously.
“The Oplan Kabataan was launched by the Embassy last year to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the signing of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child to highlight every child’s right to a name, nationality and access to quality healthcare and education,” the diplomat told the GDN.
“The embassy has to date facilitated the DNA testing of 22 children and has repatriated 10 minors with seven accompanying parents under the programme.”
Six children were repatriated to Manila in the last flight on August 29 with their parents after the Embassy processed their documents – the oldest child repatriated was five years, while the youngest was only three months old.
Even before the launch of the programme, the Embassy worked closely with Bahrain authorities to resolve the special cases on a humanitarian basis.
“From 2017 until September 2019, the Philippine Embassy in Manama has assisted in the repatriation of 61 undocumented children who were born in Bahrain under irregular circumstances.
“Their parents were not married and, in some instances, either or both parents were themselves undocumented or had become irregular workers.”
The diplomat stressed in some instances, despite the parents being married they were unable to secure papers for the children due to lack of resources – particularly low salaries that did not allow them to qualify to get dependent visas for the children.
“Because of these circumstances, the children do not even have documents, particularly birth certificates,” said Mr Ver.
“These children have thus remained undocumented, without official birth records, appropriate visas or residence permits and CPR.”
Mr Ver explained that due to lack of documents, and the complex situations surrounding the children, they were deprived of necessary health care, as well as the opportunity to attend schools.
He explained that Bahrain law requires that only citizens and expatriates with the valid visas and smart cards can be enrolled in schools recognised by the Education Ministry.
“The Embassy’s past cases revealed that some of the undocumented Filipino children born in Bahrain have not been able to attend a single day in school even at the age of five or even 10 years old,” revealed the diplomat.
“These Filipino children have not even been registered with the Embassy because they have no birth records.
“They have been kept hidden as their parents fear they may be apprehended and detained with their children.
“In short, these children have been deprived of even their most basic human rights (right to identity and nationality, right to be free/move freely), as well as their rights under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.”
He said to tackle this problem they conceptualised and launched the Oplan Kabataan Programme in November last year to help the undocumented Filipino children leave the country to be reunited with a family.
The diplomat said they organised an open meeting during the launch last year to inform the Filipino community in Bahrain about the initiative.
Funding
“The Embassy secured the appropriate funding from the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila in order to facilitate and pay for the expenses for the DNA testing and repatriation of these undocumented children.
“The Embassy further assists in securing the appropriate exit clearances for these children from Bahrain’s immigration authorities.”
Mr Ver said the Embassy co-ordinated its efforts with the Foreign Ministry through the office of Under- Secretary of Foreign Affairs Shaikha Rana bint Isa Al Khalifa.
“As the Kingdom of Bahrain is also a signatory to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Foreign Affairs Ministry expressed its support to the initiative and has endorsed the programme to the relevant Bahrain government agencies,” added the diplomat.
“However, due to the coronavirus pandemic and the restrictions imposed by the government offices, the programme has encountered a few delays, particularly in securing the appropriate exit clearances and permits for the children and their parents.”
There are about 58,000 Filipinos working in Bahrain, of whom about 18,000 are domestic workers.
sandy@gdn.com.bh
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