Parliament has passed the Child Justice Bill 2024 which shifts the approach from punishment to rehabilitation and raising the criminal responsibility of children from 10 to 14 years.
The objective of this Act is to establish the basis for the administration of a child justice system designed to reduce offending and re-offending by children in conflict with the law and contribute to safer communities by holding children accountable for their actions, promoting children’s rehabilitation and encouraging them to become law-abiding and productive citizens.
The Act also provides for the special treatment of children at all stages of the criminal proceedings; and prevent children from being exposed to the adverse effects of the formal criminal justice system by using, where appropriate, diversionary alternatives.
It also seeks to involve families, traditional or community leaders, civil society and community members in rehabilitating and reintegrating children who are in conflict with the law, as well as promote cooperation between government departments and civil society to ensure a holistic and integrated approach to its implementation.
This act seeks to address the root causes of juvenile delinquency, focusing on rehabilitation and reintegration rather than punishment.