Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
De Leon, Krizzy
Bongco, Clarisse M.
Cabarle, Christopher R.
10-Carnelian
Introduction
In the Netherlands, children below the age of 12 are considered too young
to be responsible for breaking the law. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the
Child calls upon state parties worldwide to establish a minimum age below which children shall
presumed not to have the capacity to infringe the penal law. (Lourijsen and Liefaard T, 2019).
There are ongoing efforts on the congress to pursue in lowering the age of
accountability it varies from 9 to 12 years old. Sadly, lowering the age of criminal responsibility
is an act of violence against children. Children in conflict with the law are already victims of
circumstances, mostly because of poverty and exploitation by adult crime syndicates. Children
who are exploited and driven by adults to commit crimes need to be protected, not further
penalized. (Lowering the age of criminal responsibility is against child rights (UNICEF, 2019)
We all know that the Philippines is a third world country. Majority of our
citizens are suffering from poverty. Poverty is one of the major factors that makes people commit
crime if children is raised and involved in this environment they will commit crimes themselves.
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In our locale, cases of crimes that was done by a minor may not be that
common. But, the law of accountability will affect us in various ways. For example, by knowing
that we cannot imprison a minor. Criminal groups may use children to continue their criminal
activities. And also Children without proper guidance might see the age of accountability as a
way for them to do violent and unethical things. That is why we should have enough knowledge
about the age of accountability it will help us maintain peace.