A/HRC/14/34
36.
In the Philippines UNICEF supports a comprehensive approach to juvenile justice
which has resulted in a drastic reduction in the number of children in detention, from more
than 2,000 in 2006 to 387 in 2008. This result has been achieved through a systemic
approach to the issue, encompassing the development of a Juvenile Justice and Welfare
Act, assistance to the National Police Commission in developing a police manual on
handling of children in conflict with the law focused on diversion, and development of
community-based diversion programmes for children in conflict with the law in 298
barangays, small administrative divisions.
37.
In promoting a comprehensive approach to juvenile justice, UNICEF has worked in
Indonesia to incorporate into the National Strategy on Access to Justice provisions on
children in contact with the law. In Liberia, UNICEF has led the development of a national
common approach to child justice in Liberia that was endorsed by the Rule of Law Group
in the context of the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (2008–2012) and
led to the establishment of a child justice forum chaired by the Ministry of Justice.
38.
In 2008, UNODC implemented programmes on juvenile justice in Egypt, Jordan and
the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya. A programme that started in Egypt in 2003 is now focusing on
the vocational training and social reintegration of boys, including pre-release and postrelease preparation, and provides for specific action targeting girls in conflict with the law.
The programme in the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya has led to the adoption and implementation
of a national strategy on juvenile justice.
39.
At the request of the Economic and Social Council,38 UNODC is preparing an
intergovernmental meeting of experts to study ways and means of strengthening access to
legal aid in the criminal justice system, together with the possibility of developing an
instrument such as a declaration of basic principles or a set of guidelines for improving
access to legal aid in criminal justice systems.
40.
As noted above, a number of events were held in country offices of the Office of the
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) within the context of the
Dignity and Justice for Detainees Week to commemorate the sixtieth anniversary of the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights. For example, the United Nations Assistance
Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), in partnership with UNODC and the United Nations
Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), organized a series of events in Afghanistan
aimed at raising awareness of the findings and recommendations of a report produced by
UNAMA on arbitrary detention in the country. Activities included a joint UNAMAUNODC press conference on detention; the broadcast of a round-table discussion on
national television on the rights of detainees; and two joint UNAMA-UNODC-UNIFEM
workshops on arbitrary detention and impunity and arbitrary detention and women.
41.
The High Commissioner for Human Rights has submitted amicus curiae briefs
before national and international tribunals in cases where the provision of her expertise
under her mandate may assist the court in dealing with human rights issues. Most recently,
briefs related to the administration of justice were submitted in two jurisdictions. In June
2008 a brief was filed in proceedings before the Supreme Court of Cambodia addressing
fair trial issues under article 14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
A second brief was filed in August 2008 in proceedings before the Constitutional Court of
Guatemala addressing the crime of enforced disappearance and its characteristics under
international human rights law.
42.
In 2008 OHCHR published an addendum to its joint publication Human Rights in
the Administration of Justice: A Manual on Human Rights for Judges, Prosecutors and
38
12
Resolution 2007/24.
GE.10-13137
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