crbb information pack (en)

EUROPEAN F INAL CONFERENCE

CHILDREN´S RIGHTS BEHIND BARSHuman Rights of Children deprived of liberty:

Improving Monitoring Mechanisms

February 15, 2016European Economic and Social Committee

Rue Belliard, 99. BRUSSELS 09.00h-17.30h

Inscriptionswww.childrensrightsbehindbars.eu/conference

Funded by:The Criminal Justice Programme of the European Union

This project, coordinated by DCI-Belgium, is the result of collated expertise and experience deriving from 16 European and International organisations

and 11 renowned global experts.

Information: www.childrensrightsbehindbars.eu

Other Funders:

Project funded by the Criminal Justice

www.childrensrightsbehindbars.eu Programme of the European Commission

CHILDREN'S RIGHTS BEHIND BARS

Human rights of children deprived of their liberty:

Improving monitoring mechanisms

SUMMARY OF THE PROJECT

In the Framework of the Criminal Justice Programme of the European Commission (EC), Defence for Children (DCI)-Belgium, is coordinating a Project, in collaboration with 14 European partners and 11 international experts, aiming at improving the conditions of the deprivation of liberty of children in Europe. This project is essentially funded by the EC and benefits from the financial and technical support of the Council of Europe (CoE) and of the Fonds Houtman. The purpose of the “Children’s Rights Behind Bars” (CRBB) project is reinforcing the capacities of the monitoring mechanisms of places of deprivation of liberty for children in order to prevent adequately and efficiently any risk or form of abuse or violation of the rights of children deprived of their liberty. The Project also aims at strengthening children’s dignity and the respect of their fundamental rights. The principal outcome of this Projects consists of the release of a Practical Guide for monitoring places of deprivation of liberty for children which is meant to be used as a reference by all professionals performing the monitoring of those places in the preparation, implementation and follow-up of their monitoring visits. This Practical Guide is based on:

National researches conducted in each of the 14 European countries participating to the project on the existence, the functioning and the efficiency of monitoring and complaint mechanisms relating to places of deprivation of liberty for children

14 national reports setting forth the results of the above-mentioned researches and a report containing an overview of practices at the European level

The expertise of 11 international experts, partners and associated partners involved in the project

The European and international standards applicable to this matter The works carried out in the course of 3 international seminars which gathered all experts and

partners of the Project in 2014 and 2015 A final European conference will close the Project in January 2016, in Brussels (Belgium). Participants to this conference shall include all stakeholders of the Project, representatives of all EU Member States, of the countries of the CoE as well as key international actors amongst which: members of national prevention mechanisms under the OPCAT (NPMs), ombudspersons for children, members of national Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs), representatives of regional and international monitoring mechanisms (CPT, HR Commissioner of the CoE and SPT), members of UN bodies and agencies CRC, CAT, UNODC, UNICEF, …)as well as of INGOs in relation with the relevant matters, officials and MEPs. The website www.childrensrightsbehindbars.eu includes all information relating to the CRBB’s Project as well as documentation produced in the course of the Project. It also contains numbers of relevant references and articles. For more information, please contact Sarah Grandfils ([email protected] / +32 2 203 79 08) coordinator of the Project for DCI-Belgium.

http://www.childrensrightsbehindbars.eu/


mailto:[email protected]



CHILDREN’S RIGHTS BEHIND BARS

Human Rights of Children deprived of liberty:


PARTNERS – EXPERTS – FUNDERS

PARTNERS

COORDINATOR: BELGIUM Defence for Children International (DCI)

COLLABORATORS: AUSTRIA Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights (BIM)

ESTONIA Institute of Sociology and Social Policy, University of Tartu

FRANCE Defence for Children International (DCI)

IRELAND Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT)

ITALY Defence for Children International (DCI)

LATVIA Ombudsman's Office of the Republic of Latvia

LUXEMBOURG Association nationale des communautés éducatives et sociales (ANCES)

NETHERLANDS Defence for Children International (DCI)

POLAND Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights (HFHR)

REPUBLIC OF SERBIA Child Rights Centre – Associated partner

ROMANIA Research Centre CICOP. West University in Timisoara (WUT)

SPAIN Proyecto Solidario

UNITED KINGDOM The Howard League for Penal Reform – Associated partner

Organisation Mondiale contre la Torture (OMCT) – Associated partner

Council of Europe (CoE) – Associated partner

EXPERTS

Mrs Ileana BELLO Executive Director at DCl's International Secretariat

Mrs. Anne-Sophie Controller of the « Contrôle Général des lieux de privation de liberté » (France) BONNET Expert from the French national prevention mechanism (NPM)

M. Bernard DE VOS General Delegate of the French Community for the Rights of the Child, Belgium; ENOC Chair (2013-2014)

M. Malcolm EVANS Chair of the UN Subcommittee for the Prevention of Torture (SPT), Professor of Public International Law at the University of Bristol (UK)




Mrs Paula JACK Expert in youth justice systems, former Chief Executive of the Youth Justice Agency of Northern Ireland and senior prosecutor in England and Northern Ireland

M. Philip D.JAFFÉ Psychologist, expert in child development issues and child interviews in the context of deprivation of liberty, Director of the Institut universitaire Kurt Bösch (Switzerland)

Prof. Ursula KILKELLY Professor of Law, University College Cork, Head/Dean of the Faculty of Law (Ireland)

Prof. Ton LIEFAARD Professor of Children's Rights holding the UNICEF Chair, Leiden University, Law School (Netherlands)

Prof. Sonja SNACKEN Professor at Vrije Universiteit Brussel (Belgium), Former expert from the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT)

M. Nikhil ROY Programme Development Director at Penal Reform International (PRI)

Mrs Nevena Former member of the Committee on the Rights of the Child (UN) VUCKOVIC Founding member of the Child Rights Centre – Belgrade (Serbia) COORDINATION TEAM (DCI-BELGIUM) M. Benoît Director of DCI-Belgium and president of the international movement, VAN KEIRSBILCK Supervisor of the CRBB project, expert in Child Rights Mrs. Sarah Coordinator of the CRBB project, lawyer, expert in juvenile justice and Child GRANDFILS Rights Mrs. Andrea SALCEDO Responsible of the financial and administrative management of the CRBB

Project, Project Officer on Child Rights Issues M. Pierre-Yves Juvenile justice officer of the CRBB project, expert in international law and ROSSET Human Rights

FUNDERS European Commission, Criminal Justice Program (JUST/2013/JPEN/AG/4581) CO-FUNDERS: Council of Europe

Fonds Houtman (BE) Wallonie Bruxelles-International (BE) Loterie Nationale (BE)







PRACTICAL GUIDE: MONITORING PLACES OF DEPRIVATION OF LIBERTY FOR CHILDREN

RATIONALE

It is well known that regular, external and independent monitoring visits to places of deprivation of liberty are a key instrument to preventing torture and other human rights violations and to protect fundamental rights. Experience shows, however, that even though a number of national and/or international mechanisms conduct monitoring visits to such places, the research conducted in the framework of the “Children’s Rights Behind Bars” project demonstrates that it is rare for them to focus only on children facilities and/or to have a child-rights approach integrated in their monitoring policy and methodology when visiting children’s facilities. In addition, the monitoring bodies that conduct visits to adult detention facilities are frequently the same ones conducting visits to children’s closed institutions. They often lack specific knowledge, competence and training on child issues, on the specific rules, standards and indicators that apply to the deprivation of liberty of children, and on specific principles and (communication) methods to be used when interviewing children. Child-specific and practical tools to the monitoring of such places are also often not available.

This Practical Guide has therefore been designed to address all these concerns by providing a practical tool with a child sensitive and preventive perspective, taking into account all the particular needs and aspects that make the children even more vulnerable to any violations of their rights when they are deprived of their liberty.

OBJECTIVES

The specific objectives of the Practical Guide are

To emphasise the relevant international and regional standards that relate to the rights of children deprived of their liberty and to independent monitoring of places where they are held for any kind of reasons;

To raise awareness of the different mechanisms regarding the important – preventive and protective / investigative – role they can play in monitoring places of deprivation of liberty for children;

To identify the basic principles of monitoring and the practical aspects of deprivation of liberty of children to focus on when performing the visits;

To provide practical and methodological guidance to effectively prepare, conduct and follow up the monitoring visits of places where children can be deprived of their liberty;

To highlight how monitoring reports and effective recommendations can prevent any form of abuse of children’s rights and initiate changes within institutions through a process of constructive dialogue;

To promote effective communication and cooperation between national, regional and international monitoring bodies regarding the monitoring of places of deprivation of liberty of children;




TARGETED PUBLIC

This practical guide is designed to be used by a broad range of professionals, who are entitled - by mandate, by law or upon a specific agreement - to monitor or visit places where children can be deprived of their liberty. This includes, but is not limited to:

Experts and Members of International and Regional monitoring bodies such as the SPT, the CPT and the Council of Europe’s Commissioner for Human Rights as well as agencies such as UNICEF, UNHCR or ICRC (for the specific cases of conflict areas)

Members of National Preventive Mechanisms (NPM) created or designated as such under the OPCAT

Other statutory monitoring bodies such as National Human Rights Institutions, Children’s Commissioners, Ombudspersons for Children, etc.

Special monitoring bodies such as prison monitoring committee, police inspection commission, mental health institution’s inspection, etc.

Juvenile judges

Civil society monitors and non-governmental organisations (NGOs)

National and EU parliamentarians

Multi-agency monitoring bodies

Lawyers

The information gathered in this guide will also be useful for authorities, administrations and staff members of places where children can be deprived of their liberty while implementing their day-to-day tasks, when performing internal inspections and when receiving the visit of a monitoring body. As the result of an EU project, this Guide has a European scope. However, with some adaptations in order to respond to different contexts or national specificities, the methodology and content may well be adapted and replicated to be used when visiting structures depriving children of their liberty in many countries throughout the world.

FORMAT

User-friendly format: A5, wire-O binding, small amount of pages (150), recycle paper. Hard and soft versions. Available in English & in French.

To be published in January 2016.




EUROPEAN FINAL CONFERENCE




15 February, 2016 Brussels (Belgium)

CONFERENCE FORMAT

One day plenary session including time for questions/comments and sharing of experience. OBJECTIVES

1. Presentation, promotion and dissemination of the PRACTICAL GUIDE : MONITORING PLACES OF

DEPRIVATION OF LIBERTY FOR CHILDREN

2. Awareness raising on the importance of:

a. The monitoring of all places where children are deprived of their liberty

b. The child specific aspects of the monitoring of places of deprivation of liberty for

children and the necessity to adopt a child rights based approach

c. A clear monitoring strategy including a monitoring methodology that ensure efficient

preparation, implementation and follow up of visits;

d. The communication and the cooperation between monitoring bodies of places of

deprivation of liberty for children, at international, regional and national levels

3. Remind the EU & international standards on the protection of children deprived of their liberty

4. Information on the Global Study on Children Deprived of liberty

SPEAKERS

Chair of the Conference: M. Mykola GNATOVSKYY, president of the CPT (to be confirmed) Experts in: monitoring, deprivation of liberty of children, children’s rights, juvenile justice systems, psychology and child development issues, communication with children, etc.




PARTICIPANTS / INVITEES

A least, two representatives of all European Union countries; representatives of countries member of the Council of Europe ; other key international representatives among which: representatives of Children’s Ombudpersons & Mediators; representatives of National Prevention Mechanisms (NPMs under the OPCAT); representatives of National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs); Members of regional monitoring bodies (the CPT, the Commissioner for Human Rights of the CoE); members of international monitoring bodies (the SPT); representatives of UN bodies or agencies (CRC, Special Rapporteur on torture, Special Representative of the SG on Violence against Children, UNODC, UNICEF, OHCHR, UNHCR,…); NGOs working in the field of children’s rights, deprivation of liberty, juvenile justice; other regional monitoring bodies (Africa, Latin America, MENA, Asia,…); other regional institutions (OIF, Inter-American Court on HR, ACECR,…); European Union officials; Members of EU Parliament (MEP’s); UN officials; Members of DCI sections and everyone demonstrating an interest to the topics. PHOTO EXHIBITION

A photo exhibition will gather pictures taken in the framework of a participatory workshop with young people deprived of their liberty in the closed centre of Saint Hubert, Belgium, in August 2015. Workshop organised by DCI-Belgium with Thomas Freteur, photographer, and with the collaboration of Jeunesse & Droit. Activity and exhibition funded by the Fonds Houtman.

Free participation to the European Final Conference.

A copy of the Guide and of its explanatory brochure will be distributed to every participant.


https://srsg.violenceagainstchildren.org/story/2015-11-11_1402

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