Young campaigners head for South African Parliament

Young people from Kwa Zulu Natal YMCA are taking the Youth Justice in Action campaign to the South African Parliament. On Tuesday 5th February in Cape Town, the Portfolio Committee on Justice and Constitutional Development will be conducting public hearings on South Africa’s Child Justice Bill.

The Bill is aimed at protecting the rights of children and young people by preventing them from being exposed to the negative side of the criminal justice system. It recommends that young people are dealt with in ways that are more appropriate to their needs and in accordance with the Constitution. This includes the use of diversion*, and promoting cooperation between all government departments and other organisations involved in implementing an effective criminal justice system for young people. 

Young campaigners are preparing themselves for the trip to Cape Town to get their message across to decision makers about the way that young people are treated by the youth justice system. The group will include some young ex-offenders who will be able to talk about their personal experiences of being in conflict with the law.  Watch this space!

* Instead of resorting to a formal trial, diversion removes the young person from the criminal justice process, and often refers them to community support services. It means that the negative effects of the trial process can be avoided, such as the stigma associated with conviction and the danger of young people being caught in a cycle of offending.