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UN SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON THE INDEPENDENCE OF JUDGES & LAWYERS TO THE UN 2015

PROTECTING CHILDREN’S RIGHTS IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM – GIRLS

Direct Link to Full 21-Page 2015 Report: A_HRC_29_26_ENG – File will open in Word.

	United Nations	A/HRC/29/26
	General Assembly		Distr.: General 1 April 2015 Original: English

Human Rights Council
Twenty-ninth session
Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil,
political, economic, social and cultural rights,
including the right to development

               Report of Special Rapporteur on Independence of Judges and Lawyers, Gabriela Knaul

Summary

       In the present report, the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers examines the protection of children’s rights in the justice system and analyses the essential role that must be played by judges, prosecutors and lawyers in upholding children’s human rights and applying international human rights norms, standards and principles at the domestic level. The Special Rapporteur endeavoured to go beyond the more limited notion of juvenile justice, so as to reflect the diverse experiences of children when they encounter the justice system as victims or witnesses, because they are in conflict with the law, or as parties to judicial proceedings.

       Following a brief outline of the activities carried out by the Special Rapporteur in 2014-2015, the thematic section of the report consists of five parts. The first sets the legal framework and fundamental principles upon which the Special Rapporteur’s analysis of the requirements for a child-sensitive administration of justice is based. The second part discusses access to justice and legal aid from the perspective of children. The safeguards necessary to respect, protect and fulfil children’s rights at the different stages of judicial proceedings, including sentencing, are addressed in the third part. The fourth part touches on the importance of providing children with alternatives to judicial proceedings. In the last part, the Special Rapporteur draws attention to the essential need for quality and specialized education, training and capacity-building for judges, prosecutors and lawyers. Sections IV and V contain conclusions and a number of recommendations.

       The Special Rapporteur concludes that investing in child-sensitive justice is indispensable to strengthening the rule of law and the enjoyment of human rights by all, as well as to building flourishing democratic societies. In all the aspects of the justice system, children have special rights, needs and interests that must be given primary consideration.

Contents

                                                                                                                                                                        Paragraphs      Page

                I.      Introduction......................................................................................................... 1–4              3

II.      Activities in 2014 and 2015................................................................................... 5–17              3

                         A.     Country visits and communications with Member States................................ 5–7              3

                         B.     Other activities............................................................................................ 8–17              4

              III.      Protecting children’s rights in the justice system................................................ 18–89              5

                         A.     International legal framework and fundamental principles.......................... 18–27              5

                         B.     Children’s access to justice and legal aid..................................................... 28–49              7

                                   1.      Access to justice for children............................................................... 28–34              7

                                   2.      Child-friendly legal aid......................................................................... 35–44              8

                                   3.      Informal justice systems..................................................................... 45–49              9

                         C.     Child-sensitive adjudication....................................................................... 50–77           10

                                   1.      Children in conflict with the law........................................................... 54–60           11

                                   2.      Children’s participation as victims and witnesses................................. 61–66           12

                                   3.      Deprivation of liberty and other types of sanctions.............................. 67–73           14

                                   4.      Criminal sanctions against parents....................................................... 74–77           15

                         D.     Alternatives to judicial proceedings............................................................ 78–84           16

                         E.      Education, training and capacity-building of judges, prosecutors and lawyers 86–90          17

IV.      Conclusions...................................................................................................... 91–94           18

               V.      Recommendations.......................................................................................... 95–114           19