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Diversion from judicial proceedings and alternatives to detention are essential focus areas for those working on reforming justice systems to ensure the protection of the rights of children in conflict with the law in conformity with the Convention on the Rights of the Child - Articles 37(b), 40.1, 40.3(b) and 40.4. Diversion and alternatives are therefore often prioritised in UNICEF's work. This toolkit provides clear, user-friendly guidance and practical tools for UNICEF Child Protection Specialists and others working in this important field. • It covers both theory and practice. Using this toolkit will enable readers to gain a better understanding of diversion and alternatives to detention and to access a range of resources to assist with practical implementation. Quick definitions: Alternatives to detention: refers to measures that may be imposed on children who are being formally processed though the criminal justice system, at both pre-trial and sentencing stages, that do not involve deprivation of liberty. Important note • 'Public safety & recidivism / What is the purpose of the criminal justice system?' (internal link to resource page) The introduction section is divided into 2 parts: A. About the toolkit B. The bigger picture
• It clarifies what diversion and alternatives are.
• It explains in detail why they are important.
• It provides practical guidance on how to implement diversion and alternatives using a systemic approach based on UNICEF's Protective Environment Framework and the UN Common Approach to Justice for Children.
• It gathers together project examples and other resources from a range of countries for easy reference.
Diversion: Diversion means channeling children in conflict with the law away from judicial proceedings through the development and implementation of procedures or programmes that enable many - possibly most - to avoid the potential negative effects of formal judicial proceedings, provided that human rights and legal safeguards are fully respected.
This toolkit adopts a perspective firmly grounded in child rights and child protection. However, this perspective is compatible with the main objectives of the criminal justice system overall (to prevent crime and to create a peaceful, law-abiding society). The toolkit also addresses issues of accountabilty, and the perspectives of victims/survivors and community safety. The toolkit is therefore relevant to all those involved in crime prevention and justice, not just those specialising in children's issues. It is acknowledged that in case by case situations relating to diversion and alternatives, the best interests of the child need to be balanced against the interests of victims/suvivors and society in general. These issues are discussed further in the following sections:
• 'Restorative justice - definition and discussion' (internal link to resource page)
This gives an overview of the aims and intended audience of the toolkit and how to use the toolkit.
This shows how diversion and alternatives to detention fit into the broader context of UNICEF's Child Protection Strategy - notably the 'Protective Environment Framework'. It also examines the place of diversion and alternatives within the context of justice for children as a whole. Finally, it takes a brief look at other relevant UN and regional initiatives.