A new report finds that 33% of European countries can prosecute children above the age of criminal responsibility for offences committed while under the age of criminal responsibility.
A new report, developed by Terre des hommes, in close partnership with the global law firm DLA Piper, has found that children above the minimum age of criminal responsibility can be prosecuted for offences committed when they were below the minimum age in 33% of European countries. The report also found that individual needs assessments of children involved in criminal proceedings are not being conducted systematically.
With an estimated one million children facing criminal justice proceedings in the European Union each year (according to the European Commission), Terre des hommes in Europe believes in providing these children with the necessary procedural safeguards. Tdh stresses that children's rights must be fully understood and respected by the professionals working with them. As these children represent 12% of the estimated 9 million people facing criminal proceedings in the EU, there is clearly a significant need for a framework to protect minors in contact with the law.
Hence, Terre des hommes is pleased to publish this report and the attached country fact sheets, which present key trends and the gaps that children in contact with the law currently experience in Europe, The report addresses issues ranging from minimum age, to child-specific legislation, procedural safeguards and status offences. The eighteen factsheets provide a snapshot of the situation, country by country.
The report contains a set of recommendations that aim to:
- Build stronger skills for professionals working with children in criminal proceedings
- Create child-centred policies and legislative frameworks
- Invest in robust monitoring of the situation of children in criminal proceedings
- Improve professionals' knowledge of the needs of children in criminal proceedings
Please join us for a discussion with European regional and national experts to analyse the report results during a ChildHub webinar that will take place in early October. Check back for more details!
The synthesis report and country factsheets can be downloaded below.
For more information, please contact Mariama Diallo, Regional Programme Manager, Access to Justice: mariama.diallo@tdh.ch
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