Kathmandu: Advocacy Forum (AF) organized a one-day consultation meeting entitled “Situation of Juvenile Justice in Nepal and Roles of Stakeholders,” on 26 April in New Baneshwor, Kathmandu. The meeting provided meaningful discussion on juvenile justice laws and the fair trial rights of juveniles. The issues of torture and ill-treatment of juveniles in police detention centers, difficulties in determining medical age and further helping children living on the street were key discussion points. Throughout the meeting, different stakeholders shared their valuable experiences, identified problems and provided possible solutions to these problems.
To start the meeting, Advocacy Forum presented data and case studies on juvenile torture and ill-treatment that the organization has collected from police detention centers and child correction homes. Likewise, AF lawyers shared problems while providing legal aid support to the needy juveniles in conflict with law. A district judge then presented a research paper on “Juvenile Justice in Nepal and Roles of Stakeholders.” Altogether, the productive consultation meeting consisted of 25 participants, including a judge, public prosecutors, defence lawyers, police officers, court staffs, child psychologists and social workers.
