Oversight & ethics enforcementPhysical & psychological abuseChild protection

Philippines human rights commission finds youth homes 'designed more like jails,' with ill-treatment by personnel and delayed cases

Confidence: Confirmed · 2 sourcesPhilippines · Oct 12, 2026

Subject of this story

Bahay Pag-asa youth care facilities (run by Philippine provincial and highly urbanized city governments under standards adopted by the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Council)

Also named

Oversight

Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines

What happened

On 7 April 2026 the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) released a situation report on its nationwide monitoring of Bahay Pag-asa facilities, the youth care centres that the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act (RA 9344) requires provinces and highly urbanized cities to establish and run for children in conflict with the law. The CHR documented violence during children's apprehension, ill-treatment by facility personnel, and facilities "designed more like jails than safe spaces for children," along with poor living conditions, delays in the disposition of cases, limited healthcare and education, restrictive visitation rules, and shortages of staff and resources. It said these conditions violate the Act and Article XV of the 1987 Constitution, and urged hiring social workers, adequate funding, a complete prohibition on violence, and stronger accountability for violators.

Sources (2)

Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines: 'CHR calls for urgent action to improve conditions in Bahay Pag-asa facilities' (7 April 2026)The CHR documented serious issues in the implementation of the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act... These include violence during a child's apprehension, ill-treatment by facility personnel, and facilities that are designed more like jails than safe spaces for children.

Department of Social Welfare and Development: 'DSWD pushes for establishment of more Bahay Pag-asa for children in conflict with the law'Each province and highly-urbanized city…shall be responsible for building, funding, and operating a 'Bahay Pag-asa' within their jurisdiction following the standards that will be set by DSWD and adopted by the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Council (JJWC).

Response

Bahay Pag-asa youth care facilities (run by Philippine provincial and highly urbanized city governments under standards adopted by the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Council)

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