Australian Human Rights Commission submission: Review of the age of criminal responsibility
The Australian Human Rights Commission’s submission to the Council of Attorneys-General Age of Criminal Responsibility Working Group review, dated February 2020.
The Human Rights Commission’s submission states that the Commission believes that minimum age of criminal responsibility of 10 years is too low, asserting that criminalising children for their behaviour at such a young age is largely ineffective at preventing future offending behaviour while also running counter to human rights.
An approach focused on rehabilitation, as opposed to retribution and punishment, is required for the benefit of both children and society.
