ABSTRACT
This chapter shows that welfare and youth justice practices towards victimised children have been developed along contradictory dynamics in New Zealand. New Zealand has, for many years, faced international criticism for its reservation to article 37c of the United Nations (UN) Convention of the Child that prohibits the mixing of children and adults in detention. The UN has continually emphasised that 'all children aged 0-18 years are considered vulnerable' on account of their continuing 'neural, psychological, social and physical development'. Often regarded as a human rights-conscious country, New Zealand is known for its early introduction of restorative justice that prioritised respect, participation, welfare and dignity for children. The vast majority of children who commit crime are also those who have suffered significant violations of human rights including violence, racial discrimination or economic disadvantage.
