Project: Child Rights Implementation and Services Assessment - Assessment of implementation of children’s rights and compliance with international humanitarian and human rights standards.
- Funding Source: UNICEF
The CLC started working in Kosovo in August 1998 on a project that lasted for two years. Representatives of the Children and Armed Conflict Unit, a joint initiative between the CLC and the Human Rights Centre at the University of Essex, travelled to Kosovo a number of times to assess the implementation of children's rights and compliance with international humanitarian and human rights standards and norms. The team assisted interested agencies in their planning of services. Field assessments in Kosovo highlighted the general lack of knowledge and lack of respect for
children's rights in an area of
armed conflict and the need for development and capacity building of local NGOs.
The Unit decided to concentrate on juvenile justice in Kosovo which was virtually non-existent. In partnership with UNICEF, a police training expert was sent to Kosovo to train the law enforcement officials in children's rights and develop specific training materials. The emphasis was on ensuring that the rights of juveniles are respected. The programme was very successful and well received.
With the support of UNICEF, the CLC also provided the services of two prison officers from Huntercombes in December 1999. To date, the Centre has produced comprehensive training materials and trained 360 police officers in juvenile justice and correctional officers.
The CLC also sent out a consultant on juvenile justice to provide technical assistance to UNICEF on strategy and training development for juvenile justice programme activities and build in-house training capacity. The consultant produced a legal opinion on relevant national legislation relating to juvenile justice and its compatibility with the Convention on the Rights of the Child. She also trained staff on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and international juvenile justice standards and norms.
Related papers:
Second Report on the Impact of Armed Conflict On Children in Kosovo (Carolyn Hamilton, Helen Rimington and Federica Donati) (August 1999)
Full report
The Impact of Armed Conflict On Children in Kosovo (Carolyn Hamilton and Nathalie Man) (November 1998)
Full report
Further Information: Research and AnalysisLaw Reform
- Project: Strengthening Juvenile Justice
- Developing a juvenile justice system in line with international standards regarding children’s rights.
- Funding Source: UNICEF
In 2007, the CLC began a project to assess how the juvenile justice system (including, in particular, the Juvenile Justice Code 2004) is currently being implemented, and make suggestions on how to strengthen it.
The project team, working with the government and UNICEF, gathered existing data on the situation of juveniles in conflict with the law. To complement existing data, the team developed research tools for the collection of additional quantitative data and qualitative information on the implementation of the system. The research project also examined current trends, treatment and available services for children under the minimum age of criminal responsibility.
The final report on the research includes suggestions for better implementation of the Juvenile Justice Code and improvement of the juvenile justice system. These recommendations will be used to inform policy decisions and programme planning and build capacity within the system.
In April 2008, the team also conducted a basic orientation training session with juvenile justice professionals on routine data collection and analysis.
Click here to view the final report: Justice for Children: Juvenile Crime and Juvenile Justice Practice in Kosovo
Click here to visit the Children and Armed Conflict Unit's country profile of Kosovo.
