The passing of the CYF Youth Courts Jurisdiction and Orders Bill through Parliament last night is a sad day for Human Rights in New Zealand, says Dennis McKinlay, Executive Director of Unicef NZ speaking for Every Child Counts, a coalition of organisations including Unicef, Barnardos, Save the Children, Plunket, Te Kahui Mana Ririki.

The Bill means that children as young as 12 and 13 years old can now face criminal prosecution for crimes other than murder or manslaughter. Currently, these children are dealt with through the Family Court system which has a range of powers to involve family members and communities, intervene, ensure accountability and make orders that directly address the impact of offending, including reparation or forfeiture. It is not a soft option but has the expertise and experience to deal appropriately with children who commit serious crimes. It can have orders made binding thorough the Youth Court.

"All the evidence shows that diverting children away from criminal processes has a far better result for preventing re-offending" said Dennis McKinlay. "Avoiding the chances of children embarking on a career path of criminality must surely be the goal of any legislation involving child offenders. This Bill is directly contradicts that position"

Bringing children (and 12 and 13 years olds are children in our law) in front of courts is a major step backwards in our regard for the rights of children ....and for our human rights obligations. It is a day of shame for our standing in the global effort to make the world a more fit for children.

See Also: Children, Young Persons, and Their Families (Youth Courts Jurisdiction and Orders) Amendment Bill