The Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands and UNICEF signed an agreement to support reform of the juvenile justice system in Georgia
TBILISI. 29 June, 2007. A three year cooperation agreement was signed by the Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands and UNICEF aimed at supporting the Government of Georgia in reforming the juvenile justice system. The agreement was signed by the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Netherlands to Georgia, H.E. Onno Elderenbosch and UNICEF Representative in Georgia Ms. Giovanna Barberis. The project, developed in close consultations with Governmental and non-governmental partners, will be implemented in different directions. In particular, a comprehensive Strategy and Action Plan on juvenile justice will be prepared, and a new Juvenile Justice Code and the related amendments in existing laws will be developed to bring the national legislation in full compliance with the international standards. The project will also enhance institutional and human capacity to establish a pool of qualified and trained juvenile justice experts. Police and prosecutor officers will be trained on how to implement human rights standards, how to interview and work with children, including perpetrators, victims and witnesses. A system for future juvenile judges training will be developed and training modules will be incorporated into judges’ training programmes. The project will also establish diversion and alternative sentencing programmes to divert children away from the criminal justice system and to provide an alternative to the use of custodial sentencing both pre- and post-trial. The official launch of the project will be held in early July. ***
For further information, please contact: Maya Kurtsikidze, Communications Officer, UNICEF Georgia
|
