The recognition of a juvenile criminal justice system in line with the international principles

Issue 12/2019

Abstract. With General Comment published on September 18th 2019, (almost) thirty years after the New York Convention, the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child has offered causes for reflection and recommendations in order to strengthen the rights of children accused of having infringed criminal law as well as to improve juvenile criminal justice system in the international scenario.

SUMMARY: 1. Introduction. – 2. Prevention of child offending. Early interventions directed at children below the minimum age of criminal responsibility. – 3. Interventions directed at children above the minimum age of criminal responsibility. – 4. Age and children’s criminal liability. – 5. Guarantees for a fair trial in juvenile justice. – 6. Alternatives to court process and conviction. Prohibited criminal punishments in child justice system. – 7. Pre-trial and post-trial deprivation of liberty. – 8. Children recruitment by criminal organizations or terrorist groups. – 9. Organization of child justice system and training of professionals. – 10. The importance of research, data collection and evaluation.

To read the Reflection, click on “open file”.

To download the text of the General comment of the Committee on the Rights of the Child, released on September 18, 2019, click here.