BAGUIO CITY (PIA) — With proper intervention, available services and community support, youth offenders can safely return to society.
Regional Juvenile Justice and Welfare Committee (RJJWC) honorary member Elita Herrera stressed this during the Regional Committee Against Trafficking, Violence Against Women and Children (RCAT-VAWC) review and evaluation workshop on November 21-22, 2024 in Baguio City.
In her lecture, Herrera presented the balance approach framework on restorative justice in relation to handling Children in Conflict with the Law (CICLs).
Restorative justice is the process for resolving crime by focusing on redressing the harm done to the victim, holding offenders accountable for their actions and engaging the community in the resolution of the conflict.
The goals of restorative justice include accountability, community safety, and competency development.
“Give the offenders the opportunity and encouragement to take responsibility for their behaviors, increase juvenile offenders’ skills and abilities,” Herrera said.
Herrera pointed out the importance of actively involving community members in carrying out plans. Sometimes for those who are not working directly with CICLs, we may not appreciate it, but this approach is to be implemented not by one person only but by a team with different expertise, she explained.
The management of cases requires various expertise, services of different agencies. “We have to have partners to be able to give more services, sila po iyong tinatawag sa batas na multi-disciplinary team,” she added.
She also emphasized the importance of listening to the victims.
“When we are working with the CICLs, we should give victims opportunities for involvement and inputs.”
According to Herrera, the implementation of Republic Act 9344, or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006 is everyone’s concern.
She stressed the roles of the RJJWC in the promotion of restorative justice and the balance approach model, namely; Inclusion of the youth as program targets in each of the members’ program plus budget and other resources, recognize the value of inter-agency partnership, sharing of resources, regular attendance and active participation, prompt delivery of organizational commitment.
Be involved, work as a team, consolidate efforts/resources to provide a more holistic restorative justice strategies to the youth, advocate for the efficient operationalization of the framework to the juvenile justice professional and “market” to gain community/business sector support, she added.
Meanwhile, Jewel Minlorry Llanillo-Villanueva, Assistant Head of SLU Sunflower Child and Youth Wellness Center, discussed the topic “Understanding Child Development and Dynamics of Abuse and Emotional Deprivation on children”. (JDP/MAWC-PIA CAR)
