Allies for Children releases submission on children’s rights in the justice system
In relation to draft general comment No. 27
5 September, 2024
Allies for Children has released a submission supporting the proposed general comment No. 27 and submitting that the rights of children to access to justice and effective remedies warrants closer examination, including in Australia.
The involvement of children in the justice system has for some time been an important and live concern, partly due to its perceived correlation to safer communities. However, a deeper recognition of children’s civil, economic, and political rights and their engagement in systems other than the justice system is similarly important.
In this submission, Allies for Children propose themes that may warrant further consideration through the proposed general comment, based on our work with vulnerable and disadvantaged children, young people and families. These include:
Normalising children knowing their rights
Complaints mechanisms for children in youth justice systems
Access to legal assistance for children as witnesses
The responsibility of statutory agencies to obtain legal assistance for and promote the rights of children in out-of-home care
The responsibility of States to ensure that children receive rights to education
Importance of technology
Clarification of the best interests principle
The right to be heard.