Young offenders: Govt asked to implement juvenile justice law

Barrister Afzal Hussain, who pursues juvenile cases in courts, expressed concerns over non-implementation of the law.

ISLAMABAD:

Civil society activists on Monday asked the government to take urgent steps to implement the Juvenile Justice System Ordinance (JJSO).

They said that despite a lapse of 14 years, the government has failed to implement the ordinance, which provides for protection of the rights of juveniles incarcerated in different jails, said a press release issued by the Child Rights Movement (CRM).

The law could not be implemented for various reasons including the absence of budgetary allocations, appointment of probation officers and setting up of juvenile courts.

Barrister Afzal Hussain, who pursues juvenile cases in courts, expressed concerns over the non-implementation of the law.

He said thousands of juveniles were behind bars in different jails on minor charges.

Hussain said the government should take concrete steps to implement the law so that juvenile prisoners could be protected.

“Juveniles should be kept at least in separate jails,” he said.

The CRM has also launched a letter-writing campaign urging the law, justice and human rights secretary, Capital Administration and Development secretary, Islamabad High Court registrar and others to take steps for the implementation of the law in Islamabad Capital Territory.

The rights organisation has asked the government to allocate funds for the provision of legal assistance to juveniles besides establishing an exclusive juvenile court at the federal level with at least one male and one female probation officer.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 1^st, 2014.