Juvenile Justice
11/12/07 08:48 Filed in: Information
Edmund Rice International is involved
with the issue of juvenile justice through the various centres and
individuals who are providing services to young people in trouble
with the law. Sometimes the young people who are currently
receiving education in LifeCentres or Flexible Learning Centres
have experienced trauma and difficulties arising from encounters
with juvenile justice systems that continue to remain poorly
informed about the actual realities and circumstances of young
people in distress.
In some countries, particularly in Latin America, juveniles are detained in penal centres without just cause and very often are simply remanded there while awaiting trial. Except the trial never takes place. A young person can remain in these life-denying situations for up to two years before being released. Juvenile justice can often amount to fairly callous juvenile injustice. ERI is working with human rights defenders in such in such institutions to explore ways in which all involved in systems administering juvenile justice can become aware of the human rights context for working with young people in detention.
An important resource for understanding how the Convention on the Rights of the Child has relevance for those working with young people in detention is the advocacy support, information and research provided by the Juvenile Justice Panel. They are a UN mandated agency to coordinate efforts to improve the situation for young people in detention worldwide.
In 2009 the UN Special Rapporteur on Education will focus on the educational needs of young people in detention. This will provide a useful and important focal point for ERI advocacy work in the area of juvenile justice particularly in the context of countries that may invite the Special Rapporteur to make a country visit.
In some countries, particularly in Latin America, juveniles are detained in penal centres without just cause and very often are simply remanded there while awaiting trial. Except the trial never takes place. A young person can remain in these life-denying situations for up to two years before being released. Juvenile justice can often amount to fairly callous juvenile injustice. ERI is working with human rights defenders in such in such institutions to explore ways in which all involved in systems administering juvenile justice can become aware of the human rights context for working with young people in detention.
An important resource for understanding how the Convention on the Rights of the Child has relevance for those working with young people in detention is the advocacy support, information and research provided by the Juvenile Justice Panel. They are a UN mandated agency to coordinate efforts to improve the situation for young people in detention worldwide.
In 2009 the UN Special Rapporteur on Education will focus on the educational needs of young people in detention. This will provide a useful and important focal point for ERI advocacy work in the area of juvenile justice particularly in the context of countries that may invite the Special Rapporteur to make a country visit.