MAYORS, MULTI-SECTORAL GROUPS UNITE TO STRENGTHEN
JUVENILE JUSTICE LAW

At the second National Convention of Philippine Cities held in Mandaluyong City on February 19, city mayors and other local government officials committed to strengthen the Juvenile Justice Law, enacted almost three years ago to place children in conflict of the law under the jurisdiction of a "juvenile justice system."

The juvenile justice system is centered on rehabilitation and restorative justice, as opposed to the country's current criminal justice system which is anchored on the principle of punishment.

Speaking at the event was independent senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan, who had sponsored Republic Act 9344, otherwise known as the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006 (JJWA).

He pointed out that the UN Convention on the Human Rights of the Child "recognizes the rights of the child who has breached the law...consistent with the promotion of his or her sense of dignity and worth."

Kiko acknowledged that, three years into the JJWA's implementation, many gaps had become apparent and these need to be addressed. "This is why we're coming together today, to assess the law and find ways to strengthen it."

"In spite of the gaps, we cannot go back to the old system where children are put in jail together with hardened criminals. It's like condemning them to a life of crime," Kiko emphasized.

Local officials expressed support for the strengthening of the JJWA and communicated their inputs to the proposed amendments based on experiences in the local communities. Social workers and members of the Philippine National Police also shared their experiences and cited success stories of the Juvenile Justice Law.

In Marikina, youth who would have otherwise been jailed and condemned to a life of punishment for petty crimes have been rehabilitated and are now productive, entrepreneurial members of their community.

Among the proposed amendments to RA 9344, filed as Senate Bill 2380, are clarifications on the appropriate intervention programs for repeat child offenders and children who have committed heinous crimes. SB 2380 also provides the maximum penalty for those who exploit children in the commission of criminal offenses, as well as assistance to victims of crime committed by children.

As a follow-up to this event, a multi-sectoral group was convened on Monday afternoon to clarify proposed amendments to RA 9344 and agree on collective courses of action. Present were officials of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), the Juvenile Justice Welfare Council (JJWC), the Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC), the Philippine National Police (PNP), Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP), the Liga ng mga Barangay, the Child Protection Unit Network, the Juvenile Justice Network, UNICEF, the De La Salle brothers, San Beda College, Don Bosco, PLDT Smart Foundation, and Bantay Bata.

The group resolved to undertake a stronger information campaign for the proper implementation of the Juvenile Justice Law; to prioritize the training of social workers, police, fiscals, and other parties involved in processing cases of children in conflict with the law (CICLs); and to push for the release of allocated budgets for the full implementation of the law; and to review the proposed amendments in order to strengthen the law.