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UNICEF Sana’a, 6 March 2010
A three-year project to strengthen juvenile justice systems in Yemen was launched today by the Ministry of Justice, in cooperation with the Ministry of Human Rights, the Delegation of the European Union and UNICEF. The project aims to offer alternatives to detention and access to services at the pre-trial, trial and post-trial stages, and to promote the social reintegration of juveniles in conflict with the law and community-based prevention. The European Union has provided 3.5 million Euro to UNICEF for project, and UNICEF will contribute the remaining 700,000 Euro from its regular resources.
UNICEF has been working with the Ministry of Justice in this area for several years. Speaking at the launch this morning, UNICEF Representative, Aboudou Karimou Adjibadé said, “This project will continue to build on the previous experience and process, which started more than ten years ago, to build a child-friendly justice system.” He added that child-friendly courts and more women in the juvenile justice system will improve the protective environment needed by young people.
The Representative of the European Union, Michele Cervone, said, “There is a sense of urgency to make a difference in the area of juvenile justice in Yemen.” He added, however, that external support will be ineffective without ownership by and coordination between Yemeni actors. “The fact that we are all here today shows a willingness to work together in that regard,” he said.
The Ministry of Justice is responsible for coordination and implementation of the project, which will involve cooperation with all parties working with children in conflict with the law, including: Members of Parliament, central and local government authorities, families, schools, communities, training institutes, media, Imams, civil society and juvenile justice professionals (prosecutors, judges, lawyers, social workers, teachers, mental health professionals, police officers, institution staff and correctional officers), as well as children themselves.
The overall objective of the project is to support juvenile justice and rule of law in Yemen, in line with European Union and international standards. Specific activities include:
- Conducting an assessment of needed legislative amendments and measures – including the creation of family courts and protection of child victims and witnesses of crime – and advocating for their establishment.
- Offering technical support to strengthen data collection and build institutional capacity in juvenile directorates.
- Protecting and reintegrating children deprived of their liberty through such measures as establishing child protection police units, providing free legal assistance, developing a vocational training programme and supporting rehabilitation to communities and families.
- Conducting awareness raising, social mobilization and communication for behaviour change, with youth participation.
The project will be supervised and monitored by a high level Steering Committee, which will meet twice a year to monitor, follow-up and supervise the project implementation. A Technical Committee is responsible for the implementation of the project, under the chairmanship of the Ministry of Justice and members of UNICEF and the EU, as well as representatives of other ministries and from civil society. |
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