In the Philippines, parents may face punishment for kids-turned-militants.
BANGKOK, Thailand — Forcing or seducing a child into soldiering is an unpardonable crime. But should the mothers, fathers or guardians of kids who fall prey to militants face years in prison cells — regardless of whether they advocated or opposed their childrens' service?
In the Philippines, an island nation home to rebel factions large and small, that punishment may soon be enacted. Both the Philippine Senate and House of Representatives are set to agree on a law that would jail child recruits’ parents for six to 12 years. The same punishment could be brought upon anyone with a vague sense of influence — described as “moral ascendency” — over a minor who ends up aiding rebels.
The bill takes a hard line on those complicit in child soldiering or child killing. It raises the penalties for attacking hospitals and schools, and guarantees free legal aid and psychological counseling for child soldiers who break free.
“This includes children being recruited ... in armed conflicts either as fighters, spies, messengers, cooks and couriers,” wrote chief sponsor Rep. Marcelino Teodoro in the bill’s preface. Children exposed to warfare, he wrote, “continue to become victims of killing, maiming, rape and other forms of sexual violence and abduction.” (Teodoro did not return repeated requests for comment.)
Most of the draft law’s contents are extremely laudable, said Charu Lata Hogg, the Asia program manager for Child Soldiers International. “We think it is an excellent step,” she said. But Hogg and other human rights watchdogs are somewhat confounded by the uncommon move to penalize child soldiers’ parents who may not have the power to stop their kids from joining a militant group.
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