Community-Based Diversion for Children in Conflict with the Law

The Cebu City Experience

Abstract

This paper describes a community-based diversion program for children in conflict with the law in Cebu City in the Philippines. The program, based on mediation and the principle of restorative justice, provides an alternative to the harsh, dehumanizing criminal justice system through which most child offenders in the Philippines have routinely been processed. Piloted by the NGO FREELAVA in 12 Cebu City barangays, this community-based program builds on local governance structures and involves collaboration among barangay officials, professionals and community volunteers, including past child offenders as peer educators. The paper describes the diversion process in detail, draws on the experiences of individual children, and outlines both the strengths of the program and the areas that need more attention.