Children

International Principles of Juvenile Justice

Other resources on juvenile justice Summary: International Principles of Juvenile Justice Report: The Best Interests of the Child: Human Rights and the Juvenile Justice System Convention on the Rights of the Child Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) United Nations Rules for the Protection of Juveniles Deprived of their Liberty United Nations Guidelines for the Prevention of Juvenile Delinquency: The Riyadh Guidelines United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Administration of Juvenile Justice: The Beijing Rules

The following principles are drawn from the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Beijing Rules and the Riyadh Guidelines.

• Decisions shall be taken based on the principle of non-discrimination and the best interests of the child, taking into account his or her age and circumstances and promoting a sense of worth and dignity.
• The primary aim of juvenile justice is rehabilitation and the reintegration of the child into society.
• A child in conflict with the law is entitled to basic legal guarantees and legal and other forms of assistance and representation.
• Arrest, detention and imprisonment of a child shall be avoided where possible and used only as a last resort and for the shortest appropriate time. A range of alternatives to judicial proceedings and institutional care should be made available to ensure the child's best interests are safeguarded.
• If children are detained, they shall have contact with their families; be segregated from adults; and treated with due respect to their age.
• Cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, including corporal punishment, capital punishment and life imprisonment without possibility of release, are prohibited.
• Separate juvenile justice systems should be established, with specially trained staff and separate institutions aiming at the rehabilitation of the child.
• Children have a right to prompt access to legal assistance and a prompt decision on their case.
• The child's right to privacy must be respected.