Summary: At its 22th session (Geneva, 20
September - 8 October 1999) the
Committee on the Rights of the Child
adopted 5 Recommendations on the
Administration of Juvenile Justice.
These 5 recommendations can be
read here. They are issued from
Chapter I of the "Report on the
twenty-second session" CRC/C/90,
pp. 3-4.
Recommendations on “The administration of juvenile justice”,
adopted by the Committee on the Rights of the Child in the
"Report on the twentysecond session" (Geneva, 20 September-8
October 1999)
Recommendations on “The administration of juvenile justice”, pp.
3-4
Bearing in mind that the implementation of articles 37, 40 and 39
of the Convention on the Rights of the Child must be considered
in conjunction with all the other provisions and principles of the
Convention and should take into account other existing
international standards, such as the United Nations
Standard Minimum Rules for the Administration of Juvenile Justice
(“The Beijing Rules”), adopted by the General Assembly by its
resolution 40/33 of 29 November 1985, the United Nations
Guidelines for the Prevention of Juvenile Delinquency (“The
Riyadh Guidelines”), adopted and proclaimed by the Assembly by
its resolution 45/112 of 14 December 1990, the United Nations
Rules for the Protection of Juveniles Deprived of their Liberty,
adopted by the Assembly by resolution 45/113 of 14 December
1990, and the Guidelines for Action on Children in the Criminal
Justice System, annexed to Economic and Social Council
resolution 1997/30 of 21 July 1997,
Recalling that since the beginning of its work, the administration
of juvenile justice has received consistent and systematic
attention from the Committee in the form of concrete
recommendations in the concluding observations adopted in
relation to States parties’ reports,
Noting that the experience of the Committee in its review of
reports presented by States parties on their implementation of
the Convention on the Rights of the Child has shown that in all
regions of the world and in relationto all legal systems, the
provisions of the Convention relating to the administration of
juvenile justice are in many instances not reflected in national
legislation or practice, giving cause for serious concern,
Recalling that at its tenth session in 1995 the Committee devoted
one day to a general discussion on the administration of juvenile
justice, emphasizing the implementation of existing international
standards and the need to strengthen international cooperation
both within and outside the United Nations system (see
CRC/C/46, paras. 203-238),
Welcoming the establishment, as recommended in the Guidelines
for Action on Children in the Criminal Justice System, of the
Coordination Panel on technical advice and assistance in juvenile
justice in order to facilitate the coordination of activities in this
field undertaken by relevant entities of the United Nations system
as well as non-governmental organizations, professional groups
and academic societies involved in the provision of technical
advice and assistance,
1. Calls upon States parties to give urgent attention to
undertaking all appropriate legislative, administrative and other
measures for the full implementation of the provisions of the
Convention and existing international standards relating to the
administration of juvenile justice;
2. Stresses the importance of identifying and understanding the
legal, social, financial and other obstacles preventing the full
implementation of the provisions of the Convention and existing
international standards relating to the administration of juvenile
justice and of designing ways and means to overcome these
obstacles, including raising awareness and strengthening
technical assistance;
3. Requests the United Nations High Commissioner for Human
Rights to give priority to promoting the implementation of the
provisions of the Convention and existing international standards
relating to the administration of juvenile justice, to consider what
steps might be taken to identify obstacles preventing their full
implementation and to design ways and means to overcome
these obstacles, including raising awareness and strengthening
technical assistance, in cooperation with United Nations bodies
and agencies, and other partners;
4. Suggests that the High Commissioner for Human Rights, in
accordance with her mandate as the coordinator of the human
rights promotion and protection activities throughout the United
Nations system, as stated in General Assembly resolution 48/141
of 20 December 1993, encourage all appropriate United Nations
bodies and agencies to enhance their work in the area of the
administration of juvenile justice and to use the Convention on
the Rights of the Child as their main tool to achieve this objective,
and to facilitate their work in that regard;
5. Invites the High Commissioner to inform the Committee of
progress made in the implementation of the present
recommendation.
The report, as well as introduction, agenda, suggested guide, can
be read in full on the website of the Office of the High
Commissioner for Human Rights.