37 2020 Annual Report on the Human Rights Situation in the Philippines Reported Cases of Violence Against Women and Children/ Other Forms of Gender-Based Violence 1250 Number of cases 1000 750 500 250 0 January cases February cases March cases Lockdown (15 March - 30 April) n Anti-VAWC law n Anti-Rape law n Lasciviousness n Concubinage n Anti-Photo and Video Voyeurism law n Anti-Trafficking in Persons law n Safe Spaces law n Anti-Sexual Harassment law n Total 106 During the lockdown, CHR reported that children are being arrested, confined in dog cages, locked in a coffin, paraded in the streets, or forced to sit for hours under the heat of the sun as punishment for violating curfew.160 161 These incidents show blatant disregard by the law enforcers on the protocol on handling Children At Risk as provided under the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act (RA 9344, as amended by RA 10630), which provides that no penalty shall be imposed on children for violation of ordinances, and they shall instead be brought to their residence or to any barangay official at the barangay hall to be released to the custody of their parents. 107 In response to the reports of degrading treatment of children caught violating the ECQ guidelines, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) have issued Joint Memorandum Circular (DILG-CWC JMC 20202-001). The circular mandates that no penalty shall be imposed on children who are caught violating the ECQ, instead they should be brought to their residence or the barangay official at the nearest barangay hall to be released to the custody of their parents. The JMC also provides for exceptional considerations for children who are outside their homes during the ECQ, such as for children or adolescents living with HIV who need to return to their treatment clinics for ARV refills, children needing services on prenatal and other childcare services, children with disabilities, children needing to report cases of violence, abuse, and exploitation. 162 108 The CHR also issued two advisories, entitled Handling of Children in Street Situations in Times of Health Crises and Pangangalaga sa mga Batang Pilipino sa Gitna ng Pangkalusugang Krisis 160 (2020). Report on the Human Rights Situation of the Disadvantaged, Marginalized and Vulnerable Sectors in CALABARZON ( January-June 2020). San Pablo City: CHR Regional Office IV-CALABARZON. 161 For sample cases, ibid. 162 Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) Joint Memorandum Circular (DILG-CWC JMC 20202-001)