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Epag Laban: Protecting the Rights of the Youth

The 2025 National Children’s Month focused on a really important issue: keeping kids safe in the digital world. The main goal was to raise awareness about ending online sexual abuse and exploitation (OSAEC) and getting rid of harmful materials that target children. This celebration was a wake-up call about the dangers that exist not just in the physical world, but also in the internet spaces where children spend so much of their time.

Through the different activities during the month, we were reminded that every child has fundamental rights that need to be guarded. Specifically, children deserve privacy and to be treated with dignity at all times.

For me as a student, this celebration helped me realize my own responsibilities online. I learned that I need to be extra careful with my personal information and mindful of how I communicate with others. Most importantly, I learned that if something feels wrong or unsafe, it’s crucial to speak up and seek help.

National Children’s Month showed that we need a strong support system where society protects and values every child. It’s on all of us to make sure that the internet and our communities remain safe spaces for everyone.