Domestic Laws Relevant to Preventing and Addressing Grave Violations Against Children During Armed Conflict in the Philippines: An Assessment

• In Event: From Testimony to Justice: Linking Evidence, Law, and Practice to Address Attacks on Education in Divided Societies

Proposal

National legal frameworks are vital to pursuing accountability for attacks on education. This presentation analyzes the relevant domestic legal framework in the Philippines, including the 2019 Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC) Law, which criminalizes attacks on schools and declares them “zones of peace.” By aligning domestic law with international standards such as the Safe Schools Declaration, the Philippines provides an important case study in how transitional justice can be advanced through national legislation.

The CAAC Law criminalizes attacks on schools and prohibits their military use. It is complemented by Department of Education policies that emphasize schools as safe spaces. Such frameworks are critical to ensuring that education is protected during conflict. They translate global commitments into enforceable norms, providing communities with a legal basis to demand accountability.

This study draws on documentary analysis of the law and its implementation, alongside secondary sources that track enforcement challenges, as well key informant interviews with relevant stakeholders. Findings show that while the Philippines has one of the strongest legal frameworks globally, implementation has been inconsistent, with violations continuing accountability mechanisms remaining underutilized. These gaps underscore the challenges of moving from law to practice, a common concern in transitional justice processes.

Nevertheless, the CAAC Law represents an important example of domestic legislation. It recognizes the harms suffered by children and education communities and provides pathways for accountability. By situating education within the legal architecture of protection, it advances the principle that schools should never be targets.

This presentation will argue that the Philippines’ experience offers three lessons for practitioners and scholars. First, domestic law can be a powerful vehicle for embedding international norms and framing education as a protected space. Second, to deliver meaningful accountability, legal frameworks must be accompanied by monitoring and enforcement , policy implementation at national and sub-national levels, and awareness raising and dissemination. Third, survivor and community engagement is essential to ensure that laws are not merely symbolic but serve as instruments of justice.

The Philippines case demonstrates that protecting education through law is both necessary and possible. However, it also reveals that legal frameworks alone cannot guarantee justice. They must be coupled with resources, capacity, and tangible implementation measures.

Author

• Rob M Grace, Watchlist on Children and Armed Conflict