NCJ Number
236769
Date Published
January 2011
Length
18 pages
Annotation
Presented as part of item eight on the provisional agenda for the 20th session of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice of the United Nations (U.N.) Economic and Social Council (held in Vienna, Austria, April 11-15, 2011), this report addresses national and international efforts in child justice reform, particularly through improved coordination in technical assistance.
Abstract
This report is based on information provided by 18 member states regarding their actions and challenges in the field of child justice reform. Although the number of responses received does not provide sufficient data for drawing general or global conclusions on the subject matter of the report, it does provide an indication of the efforts of motivated countries to reform their child justice systems, along with areas where they need technical assistance in achieving their goals. Information is provided on national legislation and the implementation of international obligations; national action plans in child justice; relevant data, statistics, and research; diversion, restorative justice, and alternatives to imprisonment; child-sensitive procedures and institutions; and bilateral and multilateral assistance. A major section of the report documents technical assistance provided through United Nations system-wide coordination. The report notes the work of the Interagency Panel on Juvenile justice, particularly its coordination of efforts to provide technical advice and assistance in areas of juvenile justice. The report encourages countries that have not yet integrated children's issues into their effort at upgrading the rule of law to encompass enlightened responses to juvenile delinquency that include diversion, restorative justice, and compliance with the principle that the deprivation of children's liberty should only be used as a measure of last resort and for the shortest appropriate time period. Wherever possible, the use of pretrial detention for children should be avoided.