The United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) on Thursday opposed Senator Vicente Sotto III’s proposal to lower the age of criminal liability to 12 years old. READ: Sotto wants to lower age of criminal liability to 12But according to Unicef, Sotto’s basis for filing the bill is a “flawed argument.”“To brand children as criminals removes the responsibility and accountability from adults who have failed them,” the organization said in a statement. Unicef explained that children involved in crimes are only victims, mostly of poverty and lack of a caring environment. It also noted the “shining moment for Congress” in 2006 when the prevailing law raised the age of criminal liability from nine to the current 15 years old. “This [Sotto’s bill] is a giant leap backward,” Unicef said.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer September 27, 2018 08:48 UTC