Bata lang ako: Protection of children inside youth detention centers

• Main Authors: Estera, Alyssa Coleen F., Talaman, Patricia A.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2020
• Subjects: Juvenile detention homes—Law and legislation; Juvenile justice, Administration of; Juvenile Law; Law
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_masteral/6745
• Institution: De La Salle University

The Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006 provides for a system of dealing with children in conflict with the law as well as children at risk, such as child appropriate proceedings, diversion programs, and rehabilitation. However, the said law is insufficient to provide these children of the proper treatment when already placed in these institutions. There are numerous reports of violations, violence, and abuse in youth detention centers that are, to this day, not been resolved or prevented due to lack of comprehensive rules and regulations. The conditions of these children, as described in reports, are “inhuman”, “worse than animal cages”, and “hellholes of subhuman conditions”. Thus, this paper will provide for an exhaustive set of rules and regulations, penalties, and guidelines that will help detained children. The researchers find the Administrative Order No. 15, Series of 2005 or otherwise called the “Standards for Youth Detention Homes” to be lacking in its material aspects, such as punishment for violators and constant inspection to ensure that the law and the rules are complied with. The rights of a child, as embodied in our Constitution and international laws, are of supreme importance, and yet, are the most violated and ignored. This research will provide these children the rehabilitation and treatment they deserve under the law, and most importantly, in accordance with social justice.