THE Department of Justice-Board of Claims yesterday signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the Department of Social Welfare and Development to institutionalize compensation to child victims of violent crimes.
The agreement is aimed at refining and simplifying the referral and assistance system for a child victim of a violent crime under the DSWD’s Residential Care Facilities.
To recall, Republic Act No. 7309, the law which created the DOJ-BOC, mandates compensation for victims of unjust imprisonment, wrongful conviction, and violent crimes, among others.
Under the MOA, the DOJ-BOC is bound to compensate child victims of different forms of injustices, such as, but not limited to, online sexual abuse and exploitation of children, rape, torture, human trafficking, illegal detention, enforced disappearance and other cases.
The DOJ-BOC will also evaluate and process the requests for claims referred by the DSWD, where qualified beneficiaries will be granted a certain amount of monetary compensation to recompense their suffering caused by various forms of injustices and aid them in their recovery and restitution.
Victims of crimes other than unjust imprisonment may receive not more than P10,000 or the amount necessary to reimburse expenses due to hospitalization and other circumstances.
“This advances our shared objective of delivering holistic justice that does not end in the prosecution of offenders but extends to the healing and rehabilitation of victims,” DOJ Undersecretary Deo Marco said during the MOA signing, a point echoed by DSWD Undersecretary Adonis Sulit.
“May this partnership inspire meaningful outcomes, foster innovative solutions and strengthen our collective efforts in providing the highest quality of care and support to children under the care and custody of DSWD-managed centers,” Sulit added.
Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Anna Noreen Devanadera said the initiative started last year when the DOJ-BOC met with the DSWD to seek guidance on the policies and procedures in ensuring that financial assistance to the victims will directly reach them.
