Fifty-two (52) participants composed of nuns, parateachers and supervisors of RMP-NMR literacy and numeracy schools undergo 'Orientation Workshop on the Monitoring & Reporting Mechanism (MRM) on Grave Child Rights Violations in Situations of Armed Conflict' on 22-25 May 2012 held at the Monastery of Transfiguration in San Jose, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon.

The training that aimed to equip the personnel of RMP-NMR schools with the basic concepts of the rights of the child, and monitoring and reporting of Six Grave Child Rights Violations in situations of Armed Conflict, was facilitated by Ms. Athea Penaloza, Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism (MRM) consultant of the Child Protection Unit of UNICEF PHilippines.

The Training included orientation and workshops on Child Rights and Child Protection, Children Affected by Armed Conflict, Introduction to MRM, and MRM in the Philippines and its Processes.

Chairperson of Karapatan Northern Mindanao, Judge Beverly Selim-Musni, aided the training by providing insights on concepts of human rights and international humanitarian law, and introducing to the participants various legal instruments safeguarding the rights of the child.

The training, funded by and held in partnership with UNICEF Philippines, is part of the efforts of RMP-NMR in protecting the schools for indigenous children it has put up together with host communities in 2011. In the past, these schools were closed due to recurrent problem of militarization and displacement.

Recently, RMP-NMR has become an affiliated organization of the Global Coalition to Protect Education against Attacks (GCPEA).

RMP-NMR will organize another set of similar training in June 2012 that will include as trainees representatives from indigenous communities, lawyers and human rights workers, child rights advocates, and educators from various regions of Mindanao.