The Commission on Human Rights has recently been made aware of a video showing four minors made to walk naked as punishment for allegedly bathing in the river. While the Commission understands the importance of discipline in child rearing, the alleged punishment meted out to the minors involved is cruel, degrading, and excessive. Such form of punishment can be penalised by Republic Act No. 9745 or the Anti-Torture Act and Republic Act No. 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act.

Cruel and degrading forms of punishment may have irreversible and long term impact on the well-being of the minors who are in still in the stage of crucial development. Young individuals who committed minor offense should be given appropriate intervention, guidance, and returned to their parents. What they need is proper supervision and compassion, not cruelty that will harm their dignity and welfare.

We continuously remind local government officials and law enforcement officers to practice human rights based approach policing and to refrain from employing force that is disproportionate to the action/s of offending individuals. CHR is already conducting an independent probe on this incident. ###