A/HRC/21/31 process of helping child offenders become law abiding and behave in conformity with the norms and values of society. Reintegration was the process of taking back children from the street or institutions to their families and communities. Rehabilitation required positive psychological and physical changes in the child. Achieving the offender’s reconciliation with the victim was a crucial milestone in the process of rehabilitation and reintegration of a child offender. In many cultures in Africa, traditional or cultural methods of rehabilitation included traditional ceremonies that were performed to cleanse the offence and ask for forgiveness. He explained that reintegration was more difficult when a child had been taken out of his or her home because the link and trust with the family had been broken. Juvenile justice should examine not only the crime committed by the child but also the broader social and economic injustices within the family and society that were crucial for prevention, rehabilitation and reintegration. 39. Mr. Kemokai stated that child reintegration required a competent facilitator, able to facilitate the child’s access to social services and provide continuing psychological support. In playing such role it was advisable for the social worker to fully involve the child and family if available. The family could also require support to be able to keep the child. An important component of a child’s reintegration was to address the underlying problems that led to the delinquency of the child, which could include neglect, deprivation, poverty, abuse and/or social exclusion. He concluded by stating that the child and family should be given the opportunity to play an active role throughout the process of rehabilitation and reintegration. B. Plenary discussion 40. During the interactive dialogue, the following delegations spoke: Norway, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Mauritania (on behalf of the Arab Group), United States of America, Switzerland, Brazil, Belarus, Azerbaijan, Algeria, Germany, Argentina, Armenia, Slovenia, Turkey, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uruguay, Indonesia, China, Republic of Korea, Tunisia, Georgia, Chile, Cuba, Russian Federation, Morocco, Portugal and Maldives. The International Labour Organization also took the floor. The following NGOs also intervened: Friends World Committee for Consultation – Quakers2, Union of Arab Jurists3 and Defence for Children International. 41. During the discussion concern was expressed by some countries about the overuse of deprivation of liberty, including pretrial detention, and the fact that youth of colour were at disproportionate risk of being in contact/in conflict with the justice system. Reference was also made to the millions of children around the world that were affected by the incarceration of their parents and the fact that parental absence due to incarceration could leave lasting consequences on the physical and emotional well-being of children, especially young children and toddlers. Several speakers emphasized that juvenile justice systems had to be adapted to children’s needs and had to ensure the participation of the child. States provided examples of what they were doing in respect of juvenile justice in complying with the Convention on the Rights of the Child. 42. Speakers made reference to efforts made to establish restorative justice systems, as well as the need for wide-ranging programmes at the level of prevention. The importance of 2 3 12 Joint statement with the International Catholic Child Bureau, the International Baby Food Action Network and SOS Children’s Villages International. Joint Statement with the International Organization for the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, Arab Lawyers Union, General Arab Women Federation, North-South XXI, the United Towns Agency for North-South Cooperation, and the International Educational Development.