Lawyers\’ Manual for the Protection of the Child in Conflict with the Law

It is essential for the quality of the administration of child justice that all the professionals involved receive appropriate training on the content and meaning of the Convention on the Rights of the Child in general and in particular training on the provisions that relates to their daily work. The training should be systematic and continuous and should not be limited to information on the relevant national and international legal provisions. It should include established and emerging information from a variety of fields on, inter alia, the social and other causes of crime, the social and psychological development of children, with special focus on girls and children belonging to minorities or indigenous peoples, and the available measures to deal with children in violation of the law, in particular the alternative measures for judicial proceedings. A special consideration should also be given to the possible use of new technologies such as video “court appearances”, while noting the risks of others, such as DNA profiling.”*
In this context, this manual aims to:
– Provide a reference tool for lawyers working with children in conflict with the
law within a system of procedures consistent with international standards,
national legislation and best practices.
– Achieve coordination and integration among those involved with children in
conflict with the law, in particular among social service providers and lawyers.

*CRC General Comment No. 24 (2019) on children’s rights in the child justice system, para. 112.