BECAUSE OF A LACK OF RESOURCES AND THE BELIEF THAT FAMILIES CAN DEAL WITH JUVENILE OFFENDERS, THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEMS IN MANY DEVELOPING COUNTRIES ARE INADEQUATE. PROBATION SERVICES AND REFERRAL TO COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS ARE NOT USED; CONDITIONS OF PRETRIAL DETENTION ARE DEPLORABLE; AND CORRECTIONAL POLICIES, WHERE THEY EXIST, FAIL TO PROVIDE FOR YOUTHS' REHABILITATION AND RETURN TO THE COMMUNITY. IN DECEMBER 1974, THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES SIGNED A DECREE TO PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH. THE DECREE ESTABLISHES POLICIES FOR ASSIGNING YOUNG OFFENDERS TO COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS OR INSTITUTIONS, FOR MINIMIZING THE LIKELIHOOD THAT YOUNG OFFENDERS WILL BE STIGMATIZED BY THEIR CONTACT WITH THE JUSTICE SYSTEM, AND FOR ASSURING THAT INSTITUTIONAL SERVICES PROVIDE FOR THE REINTEGRATION OF JUVENILE OFFENDERS INTO THE COMMUNITY. IN ADDITION, THE PRESIDENT LAUNCHED IN DECEMBER 1976 THE 'NATIONAL PLAN OF ACTION FOR THE DECADE OF THE FILIPPINO CHILD'. THE PLAN, A BLUEPRINT FOR CHILD AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS IN THE PHILIPPINES, SETS FORTH GOALS FOR IMPROVING ALL ASPECTS OF THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM (POLICE AND PROSECUTORIAL DIVERSION, SEPARATE DETENTION FACILITIES FOR JUVENILES, INTERAGENCY COOPERATION, DELINQUENCY PREVENTION, ETC.). (LKM)