While the nation is busy in engaging and closely monitoring the first round of the Bangsamoro Plebiscite on January 21, 2019, the House Committee on Justice sneakily and unanimously approved the lowering of the minimum age of criminal responsibility from 15 to 9 years old.
As we continue to aspire and work for a sustainable, inclusive and peaceful Mindanao, we the Alyansa ng Kabataang Mindanao para sa Kapayapaan AKMK believes and commit to promote inclusiveness and justpeace - a peace that is founded on justice and respect for human rights. We believed that development includes and prioritizes the welfare and basic rights of the youth and children. Thus, we stand with our belief that human rights is non-negotiable and so is our future.
It is also in this lens that we deal the issues affecting the rights and welfare of young people and children. We acknowledge that there is an increase to juvenile delinquency that stood nearly 40, 000 cases as recorded by the Philippine National Police. Yet, over 31.4 percent of children belong to poor families according to Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) and more than 10% of the Filipino children are forced to work to support their family. Nearly 1.5 million street children faced multiples of problems pertaining to poverty, education, and health and economic. Thus, it must also be noted that from the records of the Philippine National Police itself that only less than 2% of all crimes in the country are committed by children. Why not purposely and seriously go for those who are using children in criminal activities than punishing the children.
Thus, we must examine the immediate and underlying issues of children committing crime. Today that the country is facing inflation, increasing number of very young people or children engaged in crime, commonly from stealing or being used by syndicates. Juvenile delinquency, as such has strong links to poverty and dysfunctioning families. The passage of the bill Lowering the Minimum Age of Criminal Responsibility (MACR) from 15 years old to 9 years old, would only divert our attention from the real enemies of the society and would endanger the future of the future generations. Children are blamed and carry out the burden of the incompetence and lame reasoning of the so-called honourables-in-suits and people’s tax-paid men and women in uniform against the syndicates and criminals.
What these children need is the enforcement or full implementation of the law that provides protection and establish alternative measures that will make them accountable without subjecting them to adult procedures and ensuring their rehabilitation so that they become useful and productive citizens. As such we support any initiatives and actions that would serve the interest of the children. Instead provide opportunities to disadvantaged children, especially those who experienced abuse, human trafficking, and extreme poverty by supporting them to complete their education or meet their basic needs as a child.
We appeal to the government to withdraw the proposed lowering of Minimum Age of Criminal Responsibility (MACR). We believe that the state and the society must give the children in conflict with the law the choice and the chance to change their lives and work for to better their future. There must be a thorough scrutiny to the issue of increasing rate of young people committing crimes rather than imposing laws that would only close doors for these children to become good citizens. Instead, punish the crime syndicates who take advantage of the children.
We strongly urge the government to ensure its law enforcement efforts consistent with its human rights obligations and to address accountability issue for the abuses and excesses by the security forces in the exercise of their duty. Furthermore, the fight against drugs and criminalities has to be complemented by the intensive fight against poverty, corruption, hunger and joblessness.
We condemn the violent and unlawful way of punishing delinquent children. This fight should not compromise human rights in any means. Instead, it should strengthen the justice system and enhance the delivery of social services to improve the living condition of every children.
We remain committed to stand firm with our convictions to build our future together amidst all odds.
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#KillLoweringMACRBillNotTh
#CareNotJail
#ChildrenNotCriminals
January 23, 2019
Rena Marie V. Gahum
Secretary General
Alyansa ng Kabataang Mindanao para sa Kapayapaan (AKMK)
akmk_peace@protonmail.com
Website: http://
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