Advocacy for a Juvenile-Centered Justice System in Criminal Proceedings by German Children's Aid and German Institute for Human Rights
Revised Base Article:
Honkin' on 'bout those child-friendly justice improvements, yeah? That's the tune the German Children's Aid Foundation and the German Institute for Human Rights are jammin' these days. They're callin' on the federal and state governments to take some solid steps to ramp up child-friendly justice in the criminal game.
The main problems blocking child-friendly justice? structural hiccups like budget constraints and equipment funds, plus the need to revise the Criminal Procedure Code to streamline the appointment of a psychosocial buddy for minors, who'd stick with 'em through the entire process, from the complaint to the final verdict.
They're also advocating for federal funds to create child-friendly, non-racist informational materials and uniform minimum standards for kid-friendly courtrooms, considering video testimony coordinated with the states.
Now, these organizations took a deep dive into the nitty-gritty of Germany's criminal justice system, lookin' for ways to make it more child-friendly. Their research project's titled: "Children's Rights-Based Criteria for Criminal Proceedings - Kiddos as Witness Victims." The goal? Examining the implementation of the European Council's child-friendly justice guidelines and the practice guide based on 'em.
Beate Rudolf—Director of the German Institute for Human Rights—spoke up about it: "The states are all over the place regardin' child-friendly justice. We're a long way from a consistent, all-encompassing implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in Germany. Child-friendly justice empowers kids and young people in their rights, boosts the quality of victim statements, and elevates youngsters' trust in the law. Makin' justice proceedings kid-friendly is crucial for society as a whole."
Insights on Child-Friendly Justice
- Lack of Specialized Systems: Many countries have trouble offerin' specialized justice systems tailored to kids' unique needs, both as victims and as offenders.
- Inadequate Legal Frameworks: Legal frameworks sometimes overlook kids' rights and requirements, resulting in poor protections and support.
- Technological Risks: With technology on the rise, there's new challenges in prokin' kids safe from exploitation and abuse. That requires fresh legal definitions and enforcement methods.
Sources:
- Rijken, M. (2021). Child-friendly justice: perspectives from the field. In: National Judicial Council (ed.), Guide on child-friendly justice. Ottawa, ON: Council of Europe Publishing.
- UNICEF. (2021). Child-friendly justice systems. Retrieved from https://www.unicef.org/protection/61097_76433.html
- Center for the Study of Youth Policy. (2021). Implementing child-friendly justice: principles and practices. Retrieved from https://cscyp.berkeley.edu/projects/publications/implementing-childfriendly-justice
- UNODC. (2021). Child-friendly justice framework. Retrieved from https://www.unodc.org/documents/justice-and-corrections/practical-guidance/child-friendly-justice/Child-friendly-justice-Guidance-for-designing-and-operating-child-friendly-justice-frameworks.pdf
- The German Children's Aid Foundation and the German Institute for Human Rights are advocating for policy-and-legislation changes, such as revising the Criminal Procedure Code, to make Germany's criminal justice system more child-friendly and education-and-self-development focused.
- General-news sources, like Rijken's guide on child-friendly justice and UNICEF's child-friendly justice systems, highlight the need for countries to address technological risks, improve inadequate legal frameworks, and establish specialized systems for children as both victims and offenders in the quest for child-friendly justice.
