IPJJ Newsletter, Nr. 22, September 2009

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Interagency Panel on Juvenile Justice (IPJJ)
Newsletter

 Nr. 22, September 2009

Contents:

1. Editorial
2. New resources
3. New books
4. Future events
5. Links
6. Feed-back request

1. Editorial:                                                                                           

In this edition of the Panel Secretariat newsletter we would like to highlight resources relating to the social reintegration of children that have come into contact with the justice system, either because they have come into conflict with the law or because they are victims or witnesses of crimes.

Reintegration into society is central to the fundamental principle of the dignity of the child that should guide the treatment of every child that is alleged as, accused of, or recognized as having infringed the penal law in accordance with article 40(1) of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). Measures should take into account “the child’s age and the desirability of promoting the child’s reintegration and the child’s assuming a constructive role in society.” For further guidance see the Committee on the Rights of the Child’s General Comment No.10 on “Children’s rights in juvenile justice” (2007).

Reintegration is also a key element of article 39 of the CRC that requires State parties to take “all appropriate measures to promote physical and psychological recovery and social reintegration of a child victim”. Such reintegration is required to take place in an “environment which fosters the health, self-respect and dignity of the child.” See the UN Guidelines on Justice in Matters involving Child Victims and Witnesses of Crimes (ECOSOC resolution 2005/20) for further guidance on the the appropriate treatment of child victims and witnesses of crimes.

It is essential that the child’s right to be heard is respected at each stage of the reintegration process, in order to ensure that his or her views are taken into account, as in all aspects of judicial or administrative proceedings. For further guidance, see the Committee on the Rights of the Child General Comment No. 12 on “The right of the child to be heard” (2009)

The resources below provide some examples of community-based and family-focused reintegration measures for both children in conflict with the law and child victims of crimes.

Contents

2. Selected new resources on the Panel website:                    

Resources related to the reintegration of children:

(a) Children in conflict with the law

(b) Child victims and witnesses of crimes
General resources related to juvenile justice:

(a) Children in conflict with the law
 (b) Child victims and witnesses of crimes:
 (c) Related issues: children of imprisoned parents
 Contents

3. New books on juvenile justice                                                    
Contents

4. Forthcoming  events:                                                                    

To view the Calendar of events: www.juvenilejusticepanel.org/events/

Other event:
  • International Human Rights Network (IHRN)  
    Justice Sector Reform: Applying Human Rights Based Approaches
    May 31st – 4th June 2010, Maynooth, Ireland
    For more information, please click here
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5. New links from our website:                                                       

NGOs:
a) Train together – Se former ensemble (program providing multidisciplinary trainings for professionals working with child victims)
b) Agis Program (analysis of the good practices in the field of the hearing of child victims of maltreatment)

To view other NGOs links, please click here

Contents

6. Feed-back request:                                                                       

Thank you in advance for sending us your feed-back on the newsletter, including: your input on the information included; its relevance to your work; what types of amendments you would suggest; and any technical problems that you may have encountered in reading the newsletter or accessing our website.

Yours sincerely,

The Newsletter Team.

About the Newsletter:
English edition: Davinia Ovett, Secretariat Coordinator, IPJJ
French edition: Nicolas Gehriger, Communications Assistant, IPJJ
Spanish translation: Vera Winkelried
Please send us your comments to: newsletter@juvenilejusticepanel.org

Address:
Interagency Panel on Juvenile Justice, Secretariat, 1, rue de Varembé, P.O. Box 88, CH-1211 Geneva 20, Switzerland, Tel: +41 (0) 22 734 05 58, Fax: +41 (0) 22 740 11 45
http://www.juvenilejusticepanel.org