At the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) 2-day constructive dialogue yesterday and today in Geneva, it is Philippines’ turn to appear before the Committee, whereas Supreme Court Justice, Vui Clarence Nelson is the Coordinator of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
The Philippines ratified the CRC in August 1990 and has engaged the UNCRC, composed of 18 independent experts, every five years since then.
Justice Nelson, the regional representative of the CRC, during the hearing, expressed concerns over a number of issues pertaining to laws that protect the children in the Phillipines.
Justice Nelson on behalf of the Committee however commended the Phillipines for the number of legislation passed to protect children, however, placed emphasis on implementation.
Other issues cited by Justice Nelson are the prevention of teenage pregnancy, anti-corporal punishment, the criminal responsibility age and the difference in the penalty for rape against girls versus raping of boys.
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The minimum age of criminal responsibility refers to the age at which a person can be charged with a criminal offence and processed within the criminal justice system.
