ABSTRACT

This chapter focuses on the international rights and standards of direct relevance for the administration of juvenile justice. The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) is a confirmation of the applicability of existing international rights and standards for the administration of juvenile justice. The rights' of juvenile offenders can be found in international human rights treaties and in particular in the CRC. The CRC Committee is of the opinion that States Parties to the CRC should make prevention an integral part of their juvenile justice policy. The CRC does not contain a specific provision requiring States Parties to develop and implement a policy aimed at the prevention of juvenile delinquency. Children should be given the opportunity to express their views freely and those views should be given due weight in accordance with the age and maturity of the child throughout the juvenile justice process.