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Sunday, December 18, 2005
Barangay creates center to assist minor offenders
To ensure immediate assistance to minor offenders and abused children, the Ermita Barangay Council is seeking the approval of the creation of a Children’s Justice Center (CJC) and the barangay-based mediation-diversion program for minors.
In an approved barangay ordinance, the council created the CJC in order to facilitate speedy justice for abused children and minor offenders.
The center will also serve as facilitator in providing necessary assistance to the children such as counseling, guidance and supervision to spare them from further trauma, “with the hope of helping return the child to a normal family and community life.”
Optimistic
The CJC will also be tasked to resolve complaints relating to minor offenders that will be lodged before the barangay’s Lupong Tagapamayapa.
With the help of the barangay-based mediation-diversion program, the barangay officials are optimistic they can help the children in contact with the law (CICL) become productive citizens.
“The barangay council believes that an abused child or a youth offender are both victims of circumstances who need to be understood and provided immediately with the necessary assistance, guidance and supervision,” the ordinance read.
“These children are a concern not only of public officials but of everybody in the community and should be given top priority, instead of demoralizing, blaming, penalizing and jailing the child,” the council said.
The barangay council already submitted a copy of the ordinance to the Cebu City Council for approval. It was referred to the City Council’s committee on laws for review during their session last Wednesday.
Confidentiality
As specified in the ordinance, the CJC committee was instructed to ensure the safety of a minor and confidentiality of all cases involving abused children.
The committee is to adopt the principle of restorative justice when dealing with a youth offender and seek to repair the damage brought about by the offense committed.
It must also provide a separate and child-sensitive but fair process for healing and the restoration of balance in his relationships with the family, community members and his victim.
The CJC will be chaired by a kagawad and co-chaired by the head of the Lupong Tagapamayapa. (LCR)
(December 18, 2005 issue)
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