Section 22Sec./Art. 22

Rescue, Rehabilitation and Reintegration. - The State shall institute policies, programs and services for the rescue, rehabilitation and reintegration of children in situations of armed conflict. The programs, which shall be provided by civilian local and national government agencies, in partnership with nongovernment organizations shall aim at providing services for children while involving their families, communities and other entities to facilitate the childrens reintegration process.

These services shall include psychosocial support, health and nutrition, education, livelihood for families and other basic or legal services, as may be necessary.

Any program intervention shall be designed with due respect to the culture of each child, family and community. The child shall, at all times, be provided with legal assistance and physical security upon rescue.

Regardless of the perceived association of the children to one of the sides of the conflict, they shall benefit from all available medical, psychosocial, legal, shelter and educational response mechanism services for the victims of armed conflict.

The State shall take into account the protocol in the rescue, rehabilitation and reintegration of children specified below:

(a) Rescue. The State shall provide for adequate measures and mechanisms to facilitate the recovery, either voluntary or involuntary, of children from armed groups or government forces. It shall provide legal and physical security to children involved in armed conflict including services such as family tracing and system of referral or response on various psychosocial services needed by the victims;

(b) Rehabilitation. The civilian national or local government agencies and civil society organizations shall facilitate the normal development of children victims in their post-involvement phase. It shall provide services including therapeutic counseling, security and protection, educational assistance and livelihood opportunities to their parents, relatives or guardians or to the victims when they become of age;

(c) Reintegration. The civilian national or local government agencies and civil society organizations shall bring children back to their families or communities whenever possible. This shall involve services including the provision of alternative parental care. Trainings aimed to enhance community readiness in the reintegration of these children shall also be undertaken. Processes to facilitate the reintegration, healing and reconciliation of CIAC with their communities shall also be undertaken. Whenever possible, interventions for children shall be done with respect to their opinion. Interventions for indigenous peoples (IPs) children shall be conducted in recognition of the traditional structures and institutions of their communities.