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
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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
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