Appeal: Stop Jailing Kids With Adults In Police Prisons
Dear Coalition members and supporters:
We are circulating an international appeal to the President of the
Philippines to immediately stop the illegal detention and abuse of 36 to
54 children everyday in the company of adults in police jails all over
the Republic of the Philippines.
Please cut and paste, electronically sign your name and indicate your
country and email the appeal afterwards to the letters to the editor
section of different newspapers in the Philippines (emails shown
below).
The President of the Philippines
Malacanang Palace
Manila
Republic of the Philippines
Re Stop the illegal detention and abuse of children prisoners now
Dear Excellency:
We express deep concern over the illegal detention of 36 to 54 Filipino
children everyday. They are kept in the company of adult prisoners in
cramped police jails all over the Philippines.
We are disturbed that not a few of these children, including young girls
and mentally disabled children, come from the poorest areas. They suffer
rape, torture, tattooing, and many indignities.
We feel troubled that they are deprived of medical, social,
psychological, and legal assistance during the period of their police
detention.
We understand this constitutes a cruel, inhumane, and degrading
treatment or punishment.
We regret that in spite of numerous Philippine and international laws
prohibiting these practices, the incarceration of children in the
company of adult prisoners and these violations persist.
We hold children's rights equal to all human rights transcending
national boundaries and serving as the first priority for all nations
around the world.
We therefore appeal to the best judgment and conscience of the President
of the Philippines to stop these illegal, inhumane practices
immediately. Name and Country
You may devise your own letter if you want. For more information and
details about the widespread practice of jailing children with adults in
the Philippines, please click
http://stopchilddetention.blogspot.com/
Here are the email addresses of eight Philippine-based newspapers:
news@tribune.net.ph,
editorial@malaya.com.ph,
opinion@manilatimes.net,
feedback@inq7.net,
feedback@philstar.net.ph,
infoms@manilastandardonline.com,
it@tribune.net.ph,
letters@tribune.net.ph,
online_desk@sunstar.com.ph,
today@mail.com,
Thank you for helping stop this illegality now.
Perfecto Caparas
Coalition to Stop Child Detention Through Restorative Justice
perfectocaparas@icqmail.com
Established on 28 October 2003, the Coalition adopts the international
human rights and restorative justice frameworks in defending,
protecting, and fulfilling - by means of media advocacy, cyber-activism,
and political actions-the human rights of children in conflict with the
law all over the globe.
It is composed of at least 26 organizations and other concerned
individuals in the Philippines.
It includes Amnesty International-Philippines, Alliance of Concerned
Teachers, Stairway Foundation, Bahay Tuluyan, Sining Larong Pambata,
Lingap Pangkabataan, Humanitarian Legal Assistance Foundation,
Children's Legal Bureau, FREELAVA, PREDA Foundation, PRESO Foundation,
Save the Children Fund-UK, Medecins Sans Frontieres-Japan, Medecins Sans
Frontieres-Switzerland, ERDA Foundation, Coalition of Services of the
Elderly, Sarilaya, Women's Research and Resource Center-Western Mindanao
State University, CARE for ChYPs Organisation, Gender and Development
Office-West Visayas State University, PYAP-Kabataang Gabay sa Positibong
Pamumuhay City Social Welfare and Development Office, Balay sa Gugma
Foundation, Share A Child Movement, and Consuelo Foundation.
It counts among its supporters Unicef-Philippines, Council for the
Welfare of Children, and Department of Social Welfare and
Development-Legal Division.
