Republika ng Pilipinas Komisyon ng Karapatang Panlao ng Pilipinas (Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines) OBJECTIONS TO THE LOWERING OF THE AGE OF CRIMINAL LIABILITY An Advisory from the Commission on Human Rights CHR(IV)-A2009-004 The C o m m i s s i o n o n H u m a n Rights ( C H R ) welcomes a n y efforts i m p r o v e t h e l e g i s l a t i v e framework a f f o r d i n g special p r o t e c t i o n t O n e o f t h e l a n d m a r k l a w s o f recent v i n t a g e that called f o r t h e a d o p child-oriented system i n the administration o f juvenile justice is R 9 3 4 4 o r t h e J u v e n i l e Justice a n d W e l f a r e A c t . A specific p o i n t o f v c h i l d advocates a n d l o b b y i s t s f o r t h e passage o f t h e A c t w a s t h e t h e age o f c r i m i n a l l i a b i l i t y from n i n e ( 9 ) years t o fifteen ( 1 5 ) year T h e C H R has a special a f f i n i t y w i t h t h e said A c t as i t fiirther t h e r o l e declared b y t h e P h i l i p p i n e C o n s t i t u t i o n t h a t t h e C o m m i s s i n d e p e n d e n t i n s t i t u t i o n tasked t o m o n i t o r t h e c o m p l i a n c e o f t h e G o o f i t s o b l i g a t i o n s u n d e r i n t e r n a t i o n a l h u m a n r i g h t s i n s t r u m e n t s . (Se 9344) T h u s , as a m o n i t o r o f i n t e r n a t i o n a l h u m a n r i g h t s treaties t o P h i l i p p i n e G o v e r n m e n t i s a State P a r t y , t h e C H R i s i m p e l l e d t o v e r y s t r o n g o b j e c t i o n s t o t h e recent m o v e t o l o w e r t h e a g e o liability. T h e p r o p o s a l t o l o w e r t h e age o f c r i m i n a l l i a b i l i t y b a c k t o years ( i . e . H o u s e B i l l N o . 3 3 7 0 ) o r e v e n l o w e r , at n i n e ( 9 ) years o H o u s e B i l l N o . 3 8 6 7 ) , i s completely retrogressive and contrary to the best interests of the child. Under the U N Convention o n the Rights o f the Child ( U N C R C ) , a S P a r t y i s u r g e d t o treat t h e c h i l d i n c o n f l i c t w i t h t h e l a w i n a m a n n e w i t h t h e p r o m o t i o n o f t h e child's sense o f d i g n i t y a n d w o r t h , t a account t h e child's a g e a n d t h e d e s i r a b i l i t y o f p r o m o t i n g t reintegration a n d h i s o r h e r assumption o f a constructive role (Article 40) I n l i n e w i t h t h e t r e a t m e n t o f these c h i l d r e n t h a t a r e d e e m e d i n •/^ J^tJ-^ Karapatang Pantao: Likas Sa Atin, Tungkulin Natin _ Commonwealth Avenue, U.P. Complex, Diliman, 1101, Quezon Tel. Nos. 9 2 7 - 0 1 7 2 • 9 2 8 - 2 0 1 8 City, Philippines /L~

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