SC：如果意圖損害尊嚴，管教孩子導致身體傷害可能構成虐待兒童

法院第二庭在1月9日發布的裁決中認為，父母有權管教孩子，但管教孩子的行為不得涉及暴力、過度或不成比例的行為。

The Supreme Court (SC) has ruled that disciplining children, which results in physical injuries, may be considered child abuse if there is a clear intent to harm a child’s dignity.

最高法院 (SC) 裁定，如果有明顯損害兒童尊嚴的意圖，對兒童進行管教會導致身體傷害，則可能被視為虐待兒童。

In a ruling published on Jan. 9, the court’s Second Division upheld that parents have the right to discipline their children, but this must not involve violence, excessiveness, or disproportionality to the child’s behavior.

在1月9日公佈的裁決中，法院第二庭裁定，父母有權管教孩子，但管教孩子的行為不得涉及暴力、過度或不成比例的行為。

“When the infliction of physical injuries against a minor is done at the spur of the moment or intended to discipline or correct the wrongful behavior of the child, it is imperative that the specific intent to debase, degrade, or demean the intrinsic worth and dignity of the child as a human be established,” the 13-page ruling penned by Justice Jhosep Y. Lopez read.

「當對未成年人造成身體傷害是出於一時衝動，或者是為了管教或糾正兒童的錯誤行為時，必須有貶低、貶低或貶低其內在價值和尊嚴的具體意圖。法官約瑟夫·Y·洛佩茲茲(Jhosep Y. Lopez) 撰寫的這份長達13 頁的裁決寫道。

It added that without the specific intent to harm dignity, such actions may not amount to child abuse but could still be punishable under other provisions of the Revised Penal Code.

它補充說，如果沒有損害尊嚴的具體意圖，此類行為可能不構成虐待兒童，但仍可能根據修訂後的刑法典的其他條款受到懲罰。

The case stemmed from the conviction of a father under the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act (Republic Act No. 7610) for subjecting his two children to violent and excessive punishment.

該案源於一名父親因對兩個孩子施以暴力和過度懲罰而根據《特別保護兒童免遭虐待、剝削和歧視法》（共和國法第 7610 號）被定罪。

The father claimed his actions were intended as discipline for misbehavior, such as skipping meals and taking money from their coin banks.

這位父親聲稱，他的行為是為了對不當行為進行紀律，例如不吃飯和從硬幣銀行拿錢。

Lower courts, including the Regional Trial Court and the Court of Appeals, had earlier found the father guilty of child abuse under the law, which defines such acts as intended to “debase, degrade, or demean” a child’s dignity.

包括地區初審法院和上訴法院在內的下級法院早些時候根據法律判定父親犯有虐待兒童罪，該法律將此類行為定義為旨在「貶低、貶低或貶低」兒童的尊嚴。

The father elevated the case to the SC, asserting he lacked intent to harm his children’s dignity.

這位父親將案件提交給最高法院，聲稱他無意傷害孩子們的尊嚴。

The father was sentenced to four to six years in prison, fined P45,000, and ordered to pay P180,000 in damages to his children.

父親被判處四到六年監禁，罰款 P45,000，並命令向其孩子支付 P180,000 賠償金。

Meanwhile, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on Thursday lauded the newly established one-stop system for reporting of child rights violations, saying it cements the Philippines’ commitment to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

與此同時，人權委員會（CHR）週四讚揚了新建立的報告侵犯兒童權利行為的一站式系統，稱這鞏固了菲律賓對《聯合國兒童權利公約》的承諾。

“The Commission fully supports this initiative as it enhances the State’s obligation to protect the rights and welfare of children, as mandated under Section 2 of Republic Act No. 7610, the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act,” it said in a statement.

「委員會完全支持這項舉措，因為它加強了國家保護兒童權利和福利的義務，根據第 7610 號共和國法第 2 條《特別保護兒童免遭虐待、剝削和歧視法》的規定，」在一份聲明中說。

“Furthermore, this initiative reaffirms the Philippines’ commitment as a State Party to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which emphasizes that all actions concerning children should prioritize their best interests,” it added.

「此外，這項倡議重申了菲律賓作為《聯合國兒童權利公約》締約國的承諾，​​該公約強調所有涉及兒童的行動都應優先考慮他們的最大利益，」它補充道。

The Makabata program, created under Executive Order No. 79, facilitates age-appropriate and gender-responsive support, skills development, legal services, and alternative care placements for victims.

Makabata 計畫是根據第 79 號行政命令創建的，旨在促進為受害者提供適合年齡和性別敏感的支持、技能發展、法律服務和替代性照顧安置。

“The program further works on reintegrating children into their families and communities through after-care services, community support networks, and long-term monitoring to ensure continued protection and well-being,” the CHR said. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana and Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

人權中心表示：“該計劃進一步致力於透過善後服務、社區支持網絡和長期監測，讓兒童重新融入家庭和社區，以確保持續的保護和福祉。” — Chloe Mari A. Hufana 與 Kyle Aristopher T. Atienza