COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS OF THE PHILIPPINES
Response to the call for inputs for the “Child rights report to the High Level Political
Forum Global Review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”
9 June 2017
1. The Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines (herewith the Commission), through
its Child Rights Center, respectfully submits its inputs to the United Nations High
Commissioner for Human Rights on the subject of “Child rights report to the High Level
Political Forum Global Review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.” These
inputs focus on the first part of the questionnaire - Component 1: Cross-cutting
considerations to support implementation of the 2030 Agenda in a way in which the rights
of the child are protected and realized.
2. The Philippine government has enacted several laws and implemented various policies
and programs to address the conditions that affect children’s enjoyment of their rights, and
to ensure that children are not left behind in the country’s development agenda.1
Additionally, the current administration’s priorities for the implementation of the 2030
Agenda for Sustainable Development are anchored to the government’s ten-point socioeconomic agenda, the Philippine Development Plan, and its long term vision - Ambisyon
Natin 2040. These platforms aim for an inclusive, sustained socio-economic growth with
gains shared broadly by the Filipino people, including children.2
3. While the rights of the child is high on the agenda of the Philippine government, gaps still
exist and there are shortcomings in the proper implementation of national laws and
policies as well as international treaties particularly the Convention on the Rights of the
Child.
4. Of specific concern is the priority legislation of the current government on lowering the
minimum age of criminal responsibility. Section 6 of Republic Act No. 10630 (Juvenile
Justice Law, which amended R.A 9934), states that “No one can be held criminally
responsible for an act carried out while under the age of 15. Children aged older than 15
but younger than 18 can only be held criminally responsible where they have “acted with
discernment”. Several bills were introduced between 2006 and 2017 with a view of
lowering the minimum age of criminal responsibility, the latest legislation proposes
1
National report of the Philippines for the 3rd Cycle of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), pages 6-9,
http://lib.ohchr.org/HRBodies/UPR/Documents/Session27/PH/A_HRC_WG.6_27_PHL_1_Philippines_E_AdvanceU
neditedVersion.docx [Last Accessed 2 June 2017].
2
Voluntary National Review at the 2016 High-Level Political Forum On the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):
Philippines, pages 2-4,
https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/10765PH%20VoluntaryNationalReview_FINAL.pdf
[Last Accessed: 2 June 2017].