Youth justice

Addressing the needs and rights of young people in conflict with the law and supporting young people at risk of offending is an important area of work for Y Care International and our international partners.

Juvenile justice provides a set of key principles within international law on conditions and circumstances of arrest and detention to be upheld in dealing with young offenders and for community-based solutions to young offending to be sought above detention, wherever possible.

In many countries in the developing world, youth justice systems are weak and systems to prevent offending and re-integrate young offenders are poorly resourced and under-prioritised. In countries such as Togo, South Africa, Colombia and Honduras where YMCAs are working with at-risk youth and young offenders, arrest can be arbitrary and young men and women can spend years on remand and then be released without the skills needed to secure employment or take part in community life.

During detention, fundamental rights such as separation of young people from adults, adequate access to medical treatment, nutrition, clothing and availability of educational and recreational activities, are often not met (UNICEF International Child Development Centre, Juvenile Justice, Innocenti Digest, No. 3). For example, in Togo, young people are housed with adult offenders where they are vulnerable to physical, emotional and sexual abuse.

Y Care International’s projects seek to support the rights and improve the lives of young people at risk and young offenders, through legal representation to ensure a fair trial, counselling and therapy, providing access to education and recreational activities, vocational training and enabling family reunion.

For more information about our Youth Justice in Action campaign, visit: www.youthjusticeinaction.org