Public Defender Supports the Position of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child Regarding the Juvenile Crime

Thomas Hammarberg, Council of Europe’s High Commissioner for Human Rights, supports the position of the UN convention on the rights of the child regarding the juvenile crime. The convention envisages the search of alternative ways of sending the juveniles to prison. According to Hammarberg, the children must be charged for their crimes. At least they should take part in the process of reimbursement the damage they have made.

According to the information, spread by the Public Defender’s office, juvenile justice should not envisage any kind of punishment. The goal of the law should be liability of the child as well as his or her reintegration.

“Arrest, detention and imprisonment are legal activities to punish the children who have already reached the liability age. However, under the UN Convention, the form of the punishment must be used in the most critical situation. The term of the service should also be short. Rights of the child aim at it. Besides that, it is obvious that the child grows more aggressive if s/he is deprived of her/his freedom. A juvenile criminal can be detained when there is no more alternative to avoid the danger which threatens the society,” the statement said.

Source: GHN