Tag Archives: Juvenile Justice Act

Weekend HR Posts Rundown and Analysis 17 September, 2011

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Weekend HR Posts Rundown and Analysis
17 September, 2011

Human Rights Online Philippines features articles, blogs, news information and photos on human rights issues. It provides up-to-date information on human rights activities, events, campaigns, and solidarity actions in the Philippines. It aims not only to put human rights at the center of national discourse through digital media but also to elicit response from the public.

This week has been news and activity-filled information based on different thematic issues, sectoral concerns and other crosscutting problems.

1.  Labor rights

Labor rights, though a very broad human rights issues pertains particularly to the protection and respect of human life in the workplace and the right to work itself. Among the labor rights are the rights to job safety, collective bargaining, and equal pay for equal work.

To support the rights of workers, HRonlinePH deemed it necessary to post statements, activities and events that tackle on the existing labor policies and practices in the country which do not only run contrary to international labor standard but also violate basic human rights to work.

Posted articles:

  • [Press Release] PALEA rally today is warning to PAL vs. lockout of workers
  • [Press Release] Bishops agree to higher wages for workers – CWS
  • [Blogger] PALEA’s history – koihernandez.wordpress.com
  • [Press Release] In the first day of CWS National conference, Challenge for the Church is to be “Church of the Poor”
  • [Press Release] Papal Nuncio, International Groups Show Solidarity to First Church People-Workers Conference
  • [Press Release] Archbishop Lagdameo summons the Church to side with the oppressed – CWC
  • [Press Release] Workers expect concrete support from the Church on local and national concerns

Read more

[In the news] Cops working with Congress on ‘hamog’ boys – www.gmanews.tv

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Cops working with Congress on ‘hamog’ boys

Amid a recent streak of crimes involving minors, the Philippine National Police (PNP) is working with Congress on the proposal to lower the age at which young criminal offenders or the so-called “hamog boys” can be charged.

PNP chief Deputy Director General Nicanor Bartolome said they are studying several bills recommending different ages at which juvenile offenders can be subjected to criminal charges.

“Tayo ay nakikipagugnayan sa Kongreso lalo sa pagpapababa ng edad kung saan pwede makasuhan. Kung bata, ayon sa ating batas, hindi pwede kasuhan yan,” he said in an interview on dwIZ radio.

Bartolome said there are several pending bills in Congress that are seeking to lower the age of criminal liability.

“Sa Kongreso may proposal doon na ibaba ito sa 15 taon, meron nga 12; iba-iba ang panukala,” he added.

Read full article @ www.gmanews.tv

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[In the news] Davao Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte lambasts Human Rights Commission over child offenders anew | Sun.Star

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Davao Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte lambasts Human Rights Commission over child offenders anew | Sun.Star.

VICE Mayor Rodrigo Duterte lambasted the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) in Davao for its alleged statement that anyone below 21 years old is considered a child.

“Kini pud mga human rights na below 21 is child pa daw dapat. Mao na nag-antos ang katilingban tungod sa inyong ka bright. Ang bata inyong gipadako, nagtuo siya na wala siyay tubagonon. Maayo unta mahitabo na sa inyo (to be victimized by minor criminals) kay pikatan ta gyud mo,” Duterte said.

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Duterte dared the CHR to make a complete list of innocent victims of criminals and compare those with criminals who die within the past 10 years in Davao City.

“Tan-awa ang produkto sa inyong kabuang. Kung mao na inyong kalipay, OK lang. Kamong nawad-an ug mahal sa kinabuhi, adtoa ninyo ang CHR. Ayaw mo panghugas ug kamot kay apil mo diri. Tubaga na ninyo,” said the vice mayor.

Duterte supported the move in Congress to suspend the implementation of the controversial Juvenile Justice Act, saying the law is a copycat and is not suited in the Philippines.

Read full article @ www.sunstar.com.ph

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[Press Release] Blame our state leaders, not our kids – Partido ng Manggagawa

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The proposal to criminalize child offenders by lowering the prescribed minimum age of criminal responsibility, now at 15  under the Juvenile Justice Act, is a cure worse than the disease, the labor group Partido ng Manggagawa (PM) said in a statement.

“The proposal puts the blame to our kids rather than to our state leaders who failed to address the chronic problem of poverty that fuels the growing sense of hopelessness among our young people,” said PM secretary general Judy Ann Miranda.

According to Miranda, the intent of the Juvenile Justice Act was very clear and to some extent, comprehensive.  It mandates the state not only to recognize and protect the rights of our children against unnecessary criminal liabilities but also in taking charge of their welfare through a comprehensive program.  It even defined the roles of specific government agencies down to the level of barangay tanods in implementing the program.

“The very fact that these kids have mastered the streets rather than the school already explains a lot about this problem.   Poor street kids don’t play with the law.  They play with their adversities in life,”  stressed Miranda.

The labor group said getting involved in juvenile crimes is the downside of our youth’s development owing to the harsh economic conditions their young age has to face because of poverty.  Unfortunately in this country, corrupt state officials have no moral ascendancy to penalize the young for law breaking.

“In an ideal setup, children 15 years and below should be in values, literacy and numeracy training in schools.  And between 15-24 age bracket, they should be honing their skills in transition to the world of work,” explained Miranda.

Miranda added that those who were invloved in petty street crimes, the ‘hamog boys’ and ‘jumper boys’ alike, were basically the poor children ‘who got lost in this transition’ because the state has failed to prepare them academically and technically into the world of work.

According to the International Labor Organization (ILO), there are about 2.4 million “working children” in the Philippines and they are mostly involved in “hazardous” type of work, including mining and illicit activities such as drug trafficking and prostitution.

Furthermore, Partido ng Manggagawa revealed that problems of unemployment and precarious working conditions also await our young people.  Based on the 2008 Labor Force Survey, unemployment rate is higher under age 25, at 49.64% of the total unemployed.

Majority of young workers likewise comprise the so-called “rotating worker” or “endo” worker (end of contract) who shifts from one contractual employment to another .  This is rampant in export zones and service industry including the BPO, and now creeping into the aviation industry with the massive contractualization scheme being implemented at the Philippine Airlines.

Contact:  Judy Ann Miranda
09228677522

[From the web] Attempt to amend RA 9344 also known as the Juvenile Justice Act

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Attempt to amend RA 9344 also known as the Juvenile Justice Act
by ChildsRights- Philippines

Phil. Action on Youthful Offender (PAYO), Juvenile Justice Network (JJN), Phil. NGO Coalition on the CRC, and Child Rights Network had a meeting with CHR Chair Etta Rosales and here’s the summary of the meeting…

1). CHR’s stand is NO to amendments and full implementation of the law. Chair Etta actually co-authored RA 9344 when she was in Congress.

2). It is already in CHR’s agenda to talk to DILG Sec. Robredo. Chair Etta said that she will elevate our concerns to Robredo. They are asking for literature/ researches/ brochures/ statistics on good practices in implementing RA 9344, Restorative Justice and diversion to prepare for their talk with the DILG Secretary.

3) CHR is proposing to conduct regular case conferencing on children’s issues together with other stake holders such as social workers, the media, LGUs etc.

4). NGOs proposed that children’s rights must be integrated in the human rights education of the police and the military.

5) CHR is open to working with the networks in monitoring children’s rights. Chair Etta discussed their plans of creating a comprehensive monitoring system for human rights as part of CHR’s roadmap for 2011 – 2015.