Submitted by Eloise 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.
The CRC was ratified in 1991 and it has the force of law and takes precedence over conflicting provisions of national legislation. Although it is theoretically directly enforceable, it has not been used in court cases - as the preferred instrument is the 2007 Law on the rights and protection of children. Children can themselves report on violations of their rights. For instance, they can seize the juvenile court judge to report a violation or an abuse, however they are not always provided with legal assistance. Children rights’ violations can also be reported through other mechanisms such as the National Committee on Human Rights, and regional mechanisms. In practice however, it appears that many violations are not reported for fear of retaliation, and that legal professionals do not have the training to deal with juvenile cases.
