BY Jennifer P. Rendon
In an ideal world, children are free from violence and crimes. They also receive proper education and protection.
But this is not a perfect world. However, for the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and its attached agency, the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Council, their commitment in promoting and protecting the rights of the children has paid off.
“We are happy to reach this far in the fight for the welfare and protection of children. Our battle to ensure that no child is jailed and that children are not treated as criminals is now being realized, DSWD-6 Regional Director Ma. Evelyn Macapobre said.
Macapobre made the statement as the country marked the 15th year of enactment of Republic Act 9344 of the Juvenile Justice Welfare Act (JJWA).
This year’s celebration is themed “JJWA: Patuloy sa Pagtataguyod sa Karapatan ng mga Bata sa Bagong Normal!”
In Western Visayas, the Regional Juvenile Justice Welfare Council, which ensures the implementation of JJWA, is chaired by DSWD with members from Commission on Human Rights (CHR), Department of Justice (DOJ), Public Attorney’s Office (PAO), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), and Department of Education (DepEd).
The other members are the Department of Health (DoH), National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), Philippine National Police – Women and Children’s Desk, Provincial Social Welfare and Development Offices, Signpost Philippines, Iloilo Children Welfare Foundation, Children and Youth Representatives, League of Barangays, League of Cities and Municipalities and League of Provinces.
JJWA gives hope and second chance to Children at Risk (CAR) and Children in Conflict with the Law or (CICL), to restore their lives and dignity, and to start anew and create a better future for themselves.
“The department and JJWC have persevered to ensure the full implementation of RA 9344 since its enactment in 2006,” Macapobre said.
Prior to the enactment of the law, children committing petty crimes or status offenses were treated similarly as adult offenders.
From 1995 to 2000, DSWD reported that 52,576 children were in detention or under custodial setting while an average of 10,512 children were arrested every year with few cases being resolved.
Regrettably, majority of jails all over our country do not have separate detention facilities for children.
Testimonies and records showed that a good number of CICL suffered from different kinds of abuses while in custody or detention.
But with the enactment of JJWA, there have been developments in the CICL setup, Macapobre said.
“The JJWA has altered this picture. It has strengthened our desire for child protection,” she said.
JJWA mandates the adoption of the principle of restorative justice, prohibiting the detention of children in jails, providing juvenile offenders prevention programs at the local level, introducing diversion and, strengthening the rehabilitation, reintegration, and after care programs.
“This law also seeks to establish protective environment for children, so that they will not commit crimes or be victims of crimes,” Macapobre said.
Last year, a total of 1,079 children from Bahay Pag-asa (BPA) and other youth care facilities were reintegrated into the community.
“We, strongly encourage our local government units to continue to uphold, children’s rights through appropriate interventions, and ensure the full implementation of the law, especially at this time when we are facing a pandemic. The protection of the rights of the children should never be compromised,” she said.
Macapobre also cited the many efforts of JJWC taken to ensure the full implementation of the law.
These include enhancement in various aspects of its mandate focusing on Policy Formulation and Program Development, Research and Information Management, Advocacy and Social Mobilization, Technical Assistance to Stakeholders, and Monitoring and Evaluation.
“The DSWD and JJWC remain committed in promoting and protecting the rights of CAR and CICL under restorative justice and welfare system,” Macapobre said.
