On March 16 2023, DCI delivered a statement at the 52nd session of the Human Rights Council during the Interactive Dialogue with the Special Representative of the Secretary General on Violence against children.
We commend the Special Representative for highlighting that preventing and ending the deprivation of liberty of children are both urgent and possible. We thank the Special Representative for her continued engagement towards the eradication of deprivation of liberty of children, recognising that it is a form of violence that violates their rights. We welcome the Special Representative’s engagement on ending child institutionalisation and for providing specific advice on ending all forms of deprivation of liberty of children during her country visits.
The major outcome of the Global Forum is a Roadmap for Action which is officially launched today. This Roadmap aims at accelerating implementation of the recommendations of the UN Global Study on Children Deprived of Liberty, and at promoting concerted action and activities among Member States, UN Task Force members, civil society organisations and other stakeholders. Looking forward to this concerted action, it is important to continue to build on, and to use, good practices on alternatives to custodial measures, and gain momentum towards ending the deprivation of liberty of children. We call on Member States:
- to comply with international human rights standards, including article 37 b) of the Convention on the Rights of the Child
- to increase the minimum age of criminal responsibility to at least 16-years-old without exception,
- to implement the recommendations of the UN Global Study on Children Deprived of Liberty.
Read the full statement delivered here.
Download the Roadmap for Action here.
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