Aquino declares 4th week of October juvenile justice week

President Benigno Aquino III has declared the fourth week of October as Juvenile Justice and Welfare Consciousness Week, to emphasize the rights of Filipino youths and children. Aquino issued the declaration through Proclamation No. 489 dated October 11, the Presidential Communications Operations Office said on Saturday. "There is a need to mainstream awareness and consciousness of the Filipino people on the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act in order to emphasize the rights of every Filipino youth and child, including children-at-risk and in conflict with the law, their role in nation-building, and the responsibilities of all duty bearers and stakeholders in ensuring the protection and promoting the welfare of the Filipino youth and children," the PCOO said, citing excerpts of the proclamation. Under the proclamation, all departments, agencies, and instrumentalities of the national government, state universities and colleges, government-owned and controlled corporations and local government units, are to support the observance of the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Consciousness Week. It added the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Council will be the lead implementing agency. The PCOO said Aquino cited Section 13, Article II of the 1987 Constitution that says the State "recognizes the vital role of the youth in nation building and shall promote and protect their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, and social well-being." Aquino added the state shall also "inculcate in the youth patriotism and nationalism, and encourage their involvement in public and civic affairs." The PCOO noted the Philippines is the 31st party to sign and ratify the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UN-CRC), which establishes the minimum entitlements and freedoms of children. Such freedoms include civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights that should be respected by governments, it said. On the other hand, the proclamation said the enactment of Republic Act No. 9344, the “Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006,” affirms the Philippines' commitment to the obligations in the UN-CRC. "The Filipino people should celebrate and recognize the Filipino children and youth as the most valuable asset of the nation," the proclamation stressed. Also, the PCOO said the proclamation is in line with Presidential Proclamation No. 267 in 1993, which designates October as National Children’s Month to underscore the importance of the role of the child in the Filipino family and in Philippine society. — LBG, GMA News