Background

Millions of children throughout the world suffer harm as a result of crime and abuse of power. The rights of those children have not been adequately recognized and they may suffer additional hardship when as sisting in the justice process. Children are vulnerable and require special protection appropriate to their age, level of maturit y and individual special needs. Girls are particularly vulnerable and may face discrimination at all stages of the justice system. Children who are victims and witnesses may suffer additional hardship if mistakenly viewed as offenders when they are in fact victims and witnesses. I mproved responses to child victims and witnesses of crime can make children and their families more willing to disclose instances of victimization and more supportive of the justice process.

It is in this context and in response to the need expressed by governments and professionals for guidance in this field that IBCR set up its program on child victims and witnesses of crime. We began in the late 90's by conducting research on existing norms and standards such as the Convention on the Rights of the Child which sets forth requirements and principles to secure effective recogn ition of the rights of children, and the Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power which sets forth principles to provide victims with the right to information, participation, protection, reparation and assistance. Research was also conducted on existing best practices in this field, bearing in mind the variety of legal systems and traditions .

Considering that crime is increasingly transnational in nature and in light of the need to ensure that child victims and witnesses of crime receive equivalent protection in all countries, IBCR soon began working on draft guidelines for child victims and witnesses of crime.

Click here for more information on the IBCR Guidelines on Justice for Child Victims and Witnesses of Crime (2003).