DCI/PS

	2010/08/28 DCI-Palestine Juvenile Justice Programme DCI-Palestine started its work on juvenile justice in 1999, by mapping the applicable laws in Palestine. This was a major challenge, as the laws ruling the Occupied Territory are an amalgamation of outdated norms which do not comply with international standards. Moreover, as Gaza and the West Bank were administered by different powers, they inherited different penal codes and different juvenile laws. In view of this, and of the increasing number of children entering into conflict with the law, DCI-Palestine identified juvenile justice as a priority. This was reflected in the 2000 national conference, which focused on the need to draft a new juvenile justice law, and to train professionals in the field. However, with the outbreak of the second Intifada in September 2000, efforts had to be directed at satisfying the immediate needs of children in this emergency situation. A study conducted in 2003 showed that officials dealing with children in conflict with the law were still unaware of pivotal juvenile justice issues. Thus, during the years 2004 and 2008, DCI-Palestine invested increased efforts in building up the Palestinian juvenile justice system. These efforts included representing before the courts, conducting visits to juvenile centres, drafting the Juvenile Justice Law, documenting cases of child abuse, and building the capacity of professionals working in this field. However, the work was not systematic and did not yield as much change as was expected. After conducting a juvenile justice situation analysis in 2009, the organization adopted a different approach and developed a more comprehensive strategy which includes: 1. Monitoring juvenile justice institutions, prisons, police stations and courts, through the legal representation of selected cases of children in conflict with the law. 2. Documenting selected rights violations in juvenile centres, prisons, police stations and courts. The data collected constitutes the basis for appropriate advocacy initiatives and suitable forms of intervention. 3. Positively influencing court procedures through the legal representation of children in conflict with the law. 4. Building the capacity of professionals working in the field of juvenile justice. 5. Advocating for new laws and regulations that respect children’s rights and are in line with international standards. The new strategy is yielding positive and tangible results, and is having a direct impact in the lives of children. Thanks to DCI-Palestine’s work, one of the West Bank prisons has closed a juvenile dormitory that did not fit the standards of health required, and opened one more suitable to lodge children. As part of the legal representation of children before the courts, DCI-Palestine has succeeded in arranging meetings prior to court sessions with the judge, the prosecutor and the probation officer, in order to explain the social background of the child, and to discuss what is in his/her best interest. These meetings have resulted in reduced bails for children coming from poor families, and in the judges striving to look for alternatives to imprisonment, understanding that it should only be used a measure of last resort. As part of the capacity building component, DCI-Palestine has conducted trainings to raise the awareness of the newly created juvenile police unit regarding children’s rights, Palestinian child law, and juvenile justice law, as well as the psychosocial background of juveniles that come into conflict with the law. In partnership with EUPOL Cops and the Palestinian Police, DCI-Palestine is currently participating in the process of writing the unified procedures for the newly created juvenile police unit. Through this strategy, DCI-Palestine is striving to instill a change in the juvenile justice system, thus seeking the best interests of children in conflict with the law. Although it is a long term process, even more so considering the Palestinian context, the first steps are being taken, and DCI-Palestine is at the forefront of the process.