Section 22. Rescue, Rehabilitation and Reintegration. - The State shall institute policies, programs and
services for the rescue, rehabilitation and reintegration of children in situations of armed conflict. The
programs, which shall be provided by civilian local and national government agencies, in partnership
with nongovernment organizations shall aim at providing services for children while involving their
families, communities and other entities to facilitate the children’s reintegration process.
These services shall include psychosocial support, health and nutrition, education, livelihood for
families and other basic or legal services, as may be necessary.
Any program intervention shall be designed with due respect to the culture of each child, family and
community. The child shall, at all times, be provided with legal assistance and physical security upon
rescue.
Regardless of the perceived association of the children to one of the sides of the conflict, they shall
benefit from all available medical, psychosocial, legal, shelter and educational response mechanism
services for the victims of armed conflict.
The State shall take into account the protocol in the rescue, rehabilitation and reintegration of children
specified below:
(a) Rescue. – The State shall provide for adequate measures and mechanisms to
facilitate the recovery, either voluntary or involuntary, of children from armed groups or
government forces. It shall provide legal and physical security to children involved in
armed conflict including services such as family tracing and system of referral or
response on various psychosocial services needed by the victims;
(b) Rehabilitation. – The civilian national or local government agencies and civil society
organizations shall facilitate the normal development of children victims in their postinvolvement phase. It shall provide services including therapeutic counseling, security
and protection, educational assistance and livelihood opportunities to their parents,
relatives or guardians or to the victims when they become of age;
(c) Reintegration. – The civilian national or local government agencies and civil society
organizations shall bring children back to their families or communities whenever
possible. This shall involve services including the provision of alternative parental care.
Trainings aimed to enhance community readiness in the reintegration of these children
shall also be undertaken. Processes to facilitate the reintegration, healing and
reconciliation of CIAC with their communities shall also be undertaken. Whenever
possible, interventions for children shall be done with respect to their opinion.
Interventions for indigenous peoples (IPs) children shall be conducted in recognition of
the traditional structures and institutions of their communities.
Section 23. Release of Children Involved in Armed Conflict (CIAC). - The State shall take all feasible
measures to ensure that children recruited or used in armed conflict are demobilized, dissociated or
otherwise released from the government force or armed group.
For purposes of this Act, release activities shall be initiated independent of any negotiated peace
agreements.
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