Human Rights of Children within Juvenile Justice

Answer

Introduction

The children who find themselves on the wrong side of the law do not do so on their own accord. Rather, it is an outcome that may be associated with the restricted opportunities which tend to impact their development. Once they enter the criminal justice system, the opportunities are further restricted. Therefore, these juveniles tend to be silent victims of abuse and neglect, negligent parenting, and even economic struggles.

Human Rights of Children within Juvenile Justice

            Juvenile delinquency represents a strong evidence that the society is increasing failing to offer children the protective environment they need for proper development. By labelling such children, they end up being excluded from the society rather than being rehabilitated and reintegrated effectively (Ministry of Justice of Montenegro, 2020). They are automatically assumed to be future criminals and parents will not want their own children associated with those who are from the juvenile justice system. This criminalization and the denial of a second chance at childhood tends to limit their chances in the outside world (Liu, 2020). That is why many will end up engaging in additional crimes even as they grow up.

The children need support even as they learn why their actions are wrong and unacceptable in the society. They need love from adults in their communities who can also act as role models. Unfortunately, all these factors are absent, meaning that the rights of the child is not respected (Wagner, 2005). The personality of a child is developed as they also evolve into the different growth stages (Ministry of Justice of Montenegro, 2020). With time, they are capable of taking full responsibility of their needs, actions, and even health and safety. However, at the critical stage, the society has a duty to ensure that the child is protected from factors that will corrupt their innocence and prevent future responsible adults.

            A juvenile offender is not the same as an adult offender. That is why they need to be treated differently. The personal needs of juveniles need to be considered, including their personalities to ensure that those working with them understand their unique needs (Wagner, 2005). The social reaction must be focused on their education and supportive measures that will promote development. It should eliminate any anti-social and criminal behaviour, while also ensuring that re-offending is prevented (Liu, 2020). Therefore, there is a need to consider the home environment, education, age and even personality of the juvenile offender when considering any justice procedures.

Promoting the Human Rights of Children within the Juvenile Justice

            Although youth crime rates have reduced over the past few years, it is evident that public fear on the issue is on the rise. Some important factors have been overlooked yet these can help in better understanding the issue and even introducing measures necessary for promoting the human rights of juvenile offenders (Ministry of Justice of Montenegro, 2020). Some of these issues are child poverty, social disadvantage, poor adolescent decision making and many others. It is unfortunate that the juvenile offenders are caught between the adolescent nurturance of youth and criminal punishment. The children need more rehabilitation and not the tough pronouncements that will automatically ruin the life ahead of them.

            As a PE teacher in a secondary school, there are many steps that can be taken to promote the human rights of juvenile offenders. In school, children get to interact with others from varying backgrounds, thereby exposing them to certain peer relationships. If the family of such children do not actively contribute to ensuring that the child know how to avoid negative peer influences, he or she will end up as a juvenile delinquent (Liu, 2020). Therefore, as a teacher, I have the capability of witnessing the children as they establish their peer relationships. Also, some of the children who come from juvenile systems and are reintegrated into the community will end up interacting with others in school. My role in ensuring that their human rights are promoted is to ensure that they are not discriminated because of their past. In addition, prevention of offences is also important. The children will be offered guidance and counselling on the types of behaviour that will get them into trouble and why these should be avoided (Kausalya, 2011). Basically, in the school community, the children will be taught to embrace each other and give second chances, while also avoiding actions that are considered as crime.

            Second, there are measures that can be taken locally to ensure human rights of juveniles are respected. Policies need to be established to prevent criminalization of juvenile delinquents. Once they get out of the system, the adults in the society should not be allowed to stereotype these children in any way. They need to be taken to school and supported fully as they rebuild their lives. Those who are found discriminating against these children, or even teaching their own children to discriminate against others should be found guilty of disrespecting the human rights of children (Kausalya, 2011). In addition, once a crime is committed and the police have to pick up the child, there needs to be rules to prohibit mishandling them (Vatican, 1999). They should not be treated as criminal. That means that no force should be used against them. They should not be denied food or any other basic needs once taken into custody. Also, they should not be mixed up with other adult delinquents in the police cells while waiting to be arraigned in court.

            Lastly, this issue can be dealt with globally through proper education. The members of the public need to be constantly reminded that these are just children who have lost their ways, but are being rehabilitated to ensure they become better people (Ministry of Justice of Montenegro, 2020). Therefore, rather than assuming that they will automatically become criminals, the people should be encouraged on giving them a second chance. Also, they need to be sensitized on the factors which predispose children to such outcomes so that these can be prevented. When adults understand how they contribute to the situation, the human rights of children in juvenile justice systems will automatically be promoted (Liu, 2020). That is because they will understand that at this point, the children are simply reacting to the shortcomings that are present in their environment. Hence, the parents should also be encouraged on changes to adopt so as to ensure that these children do not suffer further from their mistakes. All adults should feel responsible for the outcomes of these children.

Conclusion

The children in the juvenile system do not need to be treated as criminals. That is because they are not being punished, but rather rehabilitated. This needs to be done with love and support so that they can reintegrate into the society and become responsible adults. Their human rights should not be disrespected just because they are offenders.