Africa: ā€œDeprivation of Childrenā€™s Liberty as the Last Resortā€œ

The African Child Policy Forum (ACPF) and Defence for Children International (DCI) are making preparations to host a global conference on child justice in Africa in Kampala, Uganda, 7-8 November 2011.

Children come in contact with the justice system in many ways: they may be involved in civil proceedings; they may be dealt with by a Juvenile Justice System when they come in conflict with the law (and too often, even when they are not in conflict with the law since a child justice system intervenes while a child is in need of care); they may be witnesses of crimes or, and, this is even more common, they may be victims of crimes. They may also be involved in administrative, social and other kind of proceedings.

The issue of managing or dealing with children coming in conflict with the law has historically haunted nations, and Africa is no exception.

Although there have already been important headways, much remains to be done in ensuring child justice in Africa, including in laying down the law and policy framework in keeping with international human rights norms and in properly implementing the same, which is often plagued by attitudinal and awareness barriers. It is often the case that the basic rights of children are not respected by national legal, social welfare and justice systems and security institutions. Justice standards that are designed for adults seldom cater to their needs. In one word, their basic human rights of access to justice are footnoted in a predominately adult-oriented justice system.

The Global Conference on Childrenā€™s Access to Justice in Africa aims to:

  • Raise the awareness of policy makers, CSOs, academia and other stakeholders about international and regional child rights standards on childrenā€™s access to and treatment in justice, and the existing gaps in the law and practice of African justice systems
  • Identify and share good practices in child-friendly justice, and promote linking and learning between stakeholders in Africa and globally
  • Promote and contribute to the development of ā€˜African Guidelines on child-friendly justiceā€™ to assist nations across Africa in establishing justice systems responding to the specific needs of children.

Conference Theme

    1. International and regional child rights standards on childrenā€™s access to and treatment in justice
    2. Existing challenges and gaps in the law and practice of African justice systems in ensuring child-friendly justice
    3. Building child-friendly formal and traditional justice systems in Africa
    4. Good practices in child-friendly justice in Africa and internationally
    5. Promoting ā€˜African Guidelines on child-friendly justiceā€™Ā 

    Call for AbstractsĀ 

    Participants are welcomed to submit original abstracts, with emphasis on, but not limited to:

    • Concepts and theory on childrenā€™s access to and treatment in justice
    • Specific country experiences on childrenā€™s access to and treatment in justice in Africa
    • International child rights standards on childrenā€™s access to and treatment in justice
    • Regional child rights standards on childrenā€™s access to and treatment in justice
    • The European Guidelines on child-friendly justice: drafting process and content
    • African Guidelines on child-friendly justice: drafting process and content
    • Childrenā€™s views on making justice more child-friendly in Africa
    • Promoting regional and national commitment and action to establish child-friendly justice systems in Africa
    • Child justice reform efforts in Africa
    • Good practices in child-friendly justice from outside of Africa
    • Challenges, good practices, innovative solutions in Africa regarding:
      • Establishing child-friendly formal and traditional justice systems
      • Building the capacity of professionals in child justice
      • Strengthening the mapping of child justice, and developing and implementing systematic national and regional data collection and research efforts
      • Harmonisation of child laws
      • Childrenā€™s legal protection
      • Improving reporting and referral mechanisms in the area of child protection
      • Ensuring accountability and ending impunity for perpetrators of violence against children
      • Alternatives to judicial proceedings for children (mediation, diversion, alternative dispute resolution)
      • Alternatives to deprivation of liberty for children
      • Children and the police
      • Children and legal aid and representation in Africa
      • Childrenā€™s access to court
      • Protecting childrenā€™s due process rights
      • Protecting children against violence in justice systems
      • Justice for child victims and witnesses of crimes
      • Girlsā€™ access to justice
      • Age verification of children

    Instructions for submitting abstractsĀ 

    An abstract must be in English or French and contains the proposed title and a brief (200 to 250 words) summary of the argument/contribution of the paper. The text should be single spaced and written in font size 11, using Arial font.

    All abstracts must be original and should not have been published or presented at any conference prior to this one.Ā  Abstracts must be submitted on or before 30 July 2011 by e-mail toĀ abstracts@kampalaconference.info

    All abstracts will be reviewed by the Organizers of conference, and authors will be notified of the results by email by 15 August 2011. The accepted abstracts will be presented at the Conference (by the authors) and published in the Abstract Book.

    Each presenter will have 15-20 minutes to present his or her paper. Presenters will b expected to rework their papers after the conference and resubmit final versions before or on 31 December 2011.

    The conference proceedings will be further peer-reviewed and published later in 2011.

    Ā 

    To register for the event, click here.Ā 

    Owner: Defence for Children International (DCI) and the African Child Policy Forum (ACPF)pdf: http://www.crin.org/docs/kampalaFlier.pdf

    Web: 
    http://www.kampalaconference.info/

    Countries

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