The Secretariat of the Interagency Panel on Juvenile Justice (IPJJ) would like to send you its best wishes for 2008! We hope that this year we shall continue to work together towards greater respect of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and other international standards relating to juvenile justice. This collaboration is essential to enable children in conflict with the law and children victims and witnesses of crimes to have access to a justice system that respects, protects and fulfils all their human rights.

2. New members:

To begin this year on a positive note, the Panel would like to warmly welcome two new members: the International Association of Youth and Family Judges and Magistrates (IAYFJM) and the International Juvenile Justice Observatory (IJJO)!

These organisations add themselves to our current members:

Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR);
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF);
United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO);
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP);
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC);
Committee on the Rights of the Child;
Defence for Children International (DCI);
Penal Reform International (PRI);
Save the Children UK;
Terre des hommes - aide à l'enfance (Tdh); and
World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT).

For further information on the Panel, please click here.
For further information on our members, please click here.

IAYFJM:

IAYFJM is a non-governmental organisation (NGO) with consultative status at the United Nations and Council of Europe. It has members in 82 countries, including national associations and individuals (judges, magistrates and professionals concerned with youth and family justice and welfare). Its main objectives are to: establish links between judges, magistrates and specialists from all over the world; study the problems raised by judicial authorities and organisations for the protection of youth and the family; examine legislation designed for the protection of youth and the family; encourage research into the causes of criminal behaviour and the maladjustment of youth, prevention and rehabilitation programmes; promote awareness and implementation of children’s rights; encourage collaboration between States and competent authorities with regard to migrant children and their families; and collaborate with international associations concerned with the protection of youth and the family. IAYFJM organises a world congress every four years and publishes a Chronicle in English, French and Spanish twice a year.

For further information, please see: www.judgesandmagistrates.org/
See also: Belfast Declaration, XVII World Congress of the IAYFJM (2006) (EN, FR, ES, Russian)

IJJO:

IJJO is a Belgian Public Utility Foundation whose mission is to bring an international and inter-disciplinary vision to juvenile justice in order to create a future for minors and young people who are in situations of exclusion. IJJO’s main objectives include, amongst others: the creation of a permanent international forum for analysis, information and reflection to tackle juvenile delinquency; the creation of an international network of juvenile justice experts; the establishment of good practice codes; the creation of an international network of juvenile justice observers; sensitisation of public opinion on issues relating to children in conflict with the law; stimulating research on juvenile justice and providing technical assistance to developing countries on juvenile justice legal reform. It contributes efficient strategies which promote the international development of appropriate policies, legislations and methods of intervention within the context of a “global juvenile justice without borders”. It provides an information and communication service, including a database of juvenile justice resources and events via its website (www.ijjo.org) and organises international conferences to analyse and exchange knowledge about legislations, intervention models and research related to juvenile delinquency.