The Juvenile Justice and Welfare Council (JJWC) highlights the formulated and adopted policies on the Integration of Juvenile Justice Indicators in the Seal of Good Local Governance, Protocol and Process Flowchart when Handling Children Allegedly Involved in Dangerous Drugs, Guidelines for the Bahay Pag-Asa and Other Youth Care Rehabilitation Facilities Handling CAR and CICL during the COVID-19 Pandemic, Technical Guidance of Standard 14: Justice for Children of the Minimum Standards for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action in Juvenile Justice and Welfare Policies of the Philippines, and Integrated Care Management Protocol in the Constructive Dialogue/Revalida with the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child on September 13 – 14, 2022 in Geneva, Switzerland.
“JJWC as a policy-making, coordinating, and monitoring body tasked with the implementation of Republic Act (RA) no. 9344 or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act (JJWA), as amended, provide technical support and assistance to government agencies in reviewing and enhancing existing policies or regulations in order to harmonize them with the provisions of the law, and in formulating and implementing their respective policies, programs, and procedures,” said JJWC Executive Director Atty. Tricia Clare A. Oco.
Among the JJWC policies that ensure the effective enforcement of the juvenile justice law are:
Integration of Juvenile Justice Indicators in the Seal of Good Local Governance. JJWA indicators such as institutionalization of the use of National Juvenile Justice and Welfare Management Information System and diversion in local government units for children in conflict with the law were included in the Local Council for the Protection of Children Functionality Assessment.
Protocol and Process Flowchart when Handling Children Allegedly Involved in Dangerous Drugs. The official guidelines on dealing with cases of children involved in dangerous drugs cases.
Guidelines for the Bahay Pag-Asa and Other Youth Care Rehabilitation Facilities Handling CAR and CICL during the COVID-19 Pandemic. This aims to ensure the safety and welfare of residents, children, employees, and officials during pandemic situations. Through this guidelines, JJWC was able to provide P2.5 million worth of COVID-19 essentials to 77 facilities, distribute P1.8 million worth of desktop computer units, with the support of Consuelo Foundation to 15 facilities, and assist children deprived of liberty with the help of PRESO Foundation through the community bail bond.
Technical Guidance of Standard 14: Justice for Children of the Minimum Standards for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action in Juvenile Justice and Welfare Policies of the Philippines. A guide to lead and encourage duty bearers and stakeholders working directly and indirectly with CAR and CICL to come up with policies and concrete measures in handling them in situations of emergencies.
Integrated Care Management Protocol. The guide for duty-bearers in the management of cases of children at risk (CAR) and children in conflict with the law (CICL). It was translated to local dialects such as Filipino, Cebuano, Ilocano, and Hiligaynon.
Aside from the policies, JJWC also established a Comprehensive National Juvenile Intervention Program, which serves as a roadmap to ensure the full implementation of JJWA into relevant, effective, efficient, and sustainable programs that protect the rights of CAR and CICL and prevent children from violating laws and committing offenses.
The Philippine delegation to the Revalida is headed by Usec. Angelo M. Tapales, Executive Director of Council for the Welfare of Children together with senior officials from the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Health, Department of Justice, Juvenile Justice and Welfare Council, Philippine Commission on Women, Philippine National Police, and from the Philippine Judiciary.
“The Philippines’ combined reports from 2009 to 2017 affirm our State’s strong adherence to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Its continuing advocacy on child rights protection is translated into policies and programs pursued under the Philippine Human Rights Plan in keeping with the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action of 1993,” said Usec. Tapales.
JJWC as one of the Philippine delegates in the Revalida, “will ensure that we will provide input as to the measures taken to ensure the effective enforcement of the legislation pertaining to children, particularly that concerns JJWA,” said Atty. Oco.
