Submitted by Denitsa on
This report is part of CRIN's access to justice for children project, looking at the status of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in national law, the status of children involved in legal proceedings, the legal means to challenge violations of children’s rights and the practical considerations involved in challenging violations.
Israel has ratified the CRC but the it does not have the force of law and cannot be directly applied by the courts. Its provisions have, however, been extensively cited as a source of interpretative guidance. Children cannot bring civil cases to challenge violations of their rights independently; rather they must be assisted by a legal representative. The representative is usually a parent or a court-appointed guardian. Where the violation amounts to a crime, the proceedings are typically brought by the Attorney-General and private prosecution is an option only in relation on some minor offences. Legal aid is available to children and their representatives for certain types civil and judicial review cases if the financial eligibility criteria are met and if it can be shown that the claim has a reasonable chance of succeeding.
