UNICEF POSITION TO THE PUBLIC DEBATE ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND ADOLESCENTS IN CONFLICT WITH THE LAW
Montevideo, April 6, 2011
Under del debate público sobre seguridad ciudadana y adolescentes en conflicto con la ley, UNICEF entiende pertinente realizar las siguientes puntualizaciones:
Cualquier modificación a la legislación nacional que permita juzgar a adolescentes menores de 18 años como adultos, se constituirá en una violación a los compromisos asumidos por el Estado uruguayo ante la comunidad internacional.
El 28 de septiembre de 1990 Uruguay ratificó la Convención sobre los Derechos del Niño y, por lo tanto, el Estado se comprometió a adoptar las medidas necesarias para garantizar que las normas fijadas en la Convención se apliquen en el país.
En materia de responsabilidad penal de adolescentes la Convención, en sus Articles 1, 37 and 40, clearly states:
- No one under 18 may be tried as an adult.
- It establishes a minimum age below which the State waives any criminal liability.
- the country is implemented in a specific criminal liability for minors, which guarantees the presumption of innocence and due legal process and to establish different penalties, where the deprivation of liberty is used only as a measure of last resort .
The Uruguayan parliament, in compliance with its obligations, adopted in 2004, law number 17,823 - the Code of Childhood and Adolescence - that advances in the adaptation of national legislation with the Convention. In particular, in criminal matters, the Code provides a specific system for adolescents between 13 and 18 years (Articles 69 to 116). It is important to note then that, despite the belief of different sectors of public opinion in Uruguay teenagers are not punished.
Regarding the implementation of the Code, and in particular on the functioning of the juvenile criminal system, major problems are evident:
First, there is consensus among multiple stakeholders on the unacceptable conditions in which teenagers meet the deprivation of liberty. This situation, coupled with significant number of leaks, fueling a perception of impunity on the part of the public.
Secondly, there has been still limited use of alternative sanctions to imprisonment and the need to strengthen these sanctions are an option and efficient.
Thirdly, it identifies the need for progress in the specialization of the criminal justice system, adolescents, through the appropriate allocation of resources and depth of training of operators.
Fourth, the situation of adolescents in contact with the juvenile justice system failures prior evidence in public policy the country. For the number of potential "clients" of the penal system is located in a reasonable quantitative dimension, strengthening of policies that aim at promoting social, economic and cultural.
Finally, UNICEF reiterated its commitment to continue supporting the work of the country and its authorities to ensure compliance with all the rights of all children and adolescents in Uruguay. For more information
Maria Victoria Blanc, Communications Officer (mvblanc@unicef.org)
Soledad Acuña, Communication and Media (sacunia@unicef.org / 099,628,011)
About UNICEF UNICEF is on the ground in over 150 countries and territories to help children survive and thrive, from early childhood through adolescence. The largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and childhood nutrition, water supply and sanitation, the provision of quality basic education for all children and child protection and girls from violence, exploitation and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by voluntary contributions from individuals, corporations, foundations and governments. For more information about UNICEF and their work, please visit www.unicef.org