www.cidh.org/countryrep/JusticiaJuvenileng/jjtoc.eng.htm

http://www.crin.org/docs/JuvenileJusticewcover.pdf

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) has published a Report on Juvenile Justice and Human Rights in the Americas, which identifies international human rights standards that should be observed by juvenile justice systems in the Americas.

In the report, the Commission expresses its concern over the weaknesses of the region's juvenile justice systems, due to the gap between rhetoric and the reality faced by children and adolescents accused of breaking the law. The Commission analyses how, with the exception of a few examples of best practices, the hemisphere's juvenile justice systems are characterised by discrimination, violence, a lack of specialisation, and the abuse of measures involving deprivation of liberty. 

In the report, the Commission urges the States to move toward abolishing prison sentences for children and adolescents, and makes recommendations designed to strengthen the institutions, laws, polices, programs, and practices having to do with juvenile justice in the region. 

To produce this report, the IACHR carried out visits to various countries in the region; consulted governmental, nongovernmental, and academic sources; organised regional consultations; and prepared a questionnaire, which was filled out by governments, civil society representatives, and experts. The IACHR thanks the Member States and civil society members for their cooperation in preparing this report, an effort made possible thanks to the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the IACHR, the Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). The IACHR also received financial support from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the organisation Save the Children Sweden, and Luxembourg. The Commission would also like to recognize the cooperation of the office of the UN Special Representative on Violence against Children.

A principal, autonomous body of the Organization of American States (OAS), the IACHR derives its mandate from the OAS Charter and the American Convention on Human Rights. The Inter-American Commission has a mandate to promote respect for human rights in the region and acts as a consultative body to the OAS in this matter. The Commission is composed of seven independent members who are elected in an individual capacity by the OAS General Assembly and who do not represent their countries of origin or residence.

Further Information: 

• CANADA: Tough new crime bill may violate child rights (13 February 2012) 
• BOLIVIA: Anti-gangs law would criminalise teens at younger age (in Spanish) (7 February 2012)
• UNITED STATES: California's youth prisons nearing an end (1 February 2012)  
• DEATH PENALTY: UN Resolution calls for special attention on children (30 September 2011) 
• ARGENTINA: Case of five juveniles sentenced to life referred to Inter-American Court (in Spanish) (30 June 2011)
• URUGUAY: Juntan firmas en contra de "toughen" sentencing of children under 18(in Spanish( (4 Juanuary 2011)
• CRIN news and reports page on children in conflict with the law
• Read about CRIN's campaign to end the inhuman sentencing of children

Previous Publication (general) items

• 01/03/2012: DISCRIMINATION: Roma and Travellers face blatant racism in today’s Europe
• 01/03/2012: Violations of Media Freedoms in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (Arabic)
• 01/03/2012: Training manual for independent monitors of juvenile detention facilities and toolkit for interviewing children, their guardians […]
• 01/03/2012: SPAIN: Children or adults? Age assessment practices
• 01/03/2012: The National Family Preservation Network (NFPN)’s New International Assessment Tool

Organisation Contact Details:

Inter-American Commission on Human Rights
1889 F St. N.W.
Washington DC
Tel: +1 202 458 6002
Email: cidhoea@aos.org

Last updated 02/03/2012 17:21:34

Please note that these reports are hosted by CRIN as a resource for Child Rights campaigners, researchers and other interested parties. Unless otherwise stated, they are not the work of CRIN and their inclusion in our database does not necessarily signify endorsement or agreement with their content by CRIN.