Their incarceration violates the law that says the children in conflict with the law must have diversion, are not jailed and punished. Local governments send children in conflict with the law to jails instead of providing them with decent homes. None of the children in these jails, called youth centers, or Bahay Pagasa (ironically House of Hope) have been convicted of any crime. Only a few hard-hearted senators who see children as criminals are proposing a corresponding law. The present practice of jailing children under 15 years of age and above is detrimental to the welfare of the children, violates their human rights and causes life-long damage.

Source: Manila Times July 08, 2017 17:48 UTC