Webinar: 30th Anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child

30 years ago the Convention on the Rights of the Child became a transformative power to move nations to treat children as rights-bearing individuals.

The first 30 years have shown great strides in this space, especially for children in conflict with the law.

We still have a long way to go, as shown by the recent release of the world’s first global report on deprivation of liberty of children. The world’s nations have opportunities for systemic change to secure for young people their full human tights, civil rights, access to justice and realization of the rule of law.

But how?

This moderated discussion raised creative thoughts about what is needed to fully implement the aspirations of the CRC. We were joined by:

• Kristen Hope Burchill, Research, Advocacy and Participation Advisor, Terre des hommes Foundation - Moderator 
• Cedric Foussard, Advocacy and Global Learning Juvenile Justice Advisor, Terre des Hommes - Moderator 
• Prof. Ton Liefaard, Director, International Childrens’ Rights Master’s Programme, Leiden Law School, Netherlands
• Manfred Nowak, Independent Expert, Global Study on Children Deprived of Liberty
• Anne Tomasi, United Nations Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights (OHCHR)

Hosted by Angela Vigil, Partner and Executive Director, Pro Bono Practice, Baker McKenzie 

2019 marks the 30th Anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. In this webinar, which was co-hosted by Juvenile Justice Initiative, we examine what that means for the United States.0190

Over 120 years ago, the United States re-imagined justice for children by creating the world’s first court for children – removing children from adult criminal courts and prisons, and giving children a second chance. The legal innovation of a separate court to give children protections, and a second chance through rehabilitation, was rapidly copied across the globe.

On October 8th of this year, the United Nations received a report from the world’s first global study of deprivation of liberty of children. The report included recommendations to ensure basic protections for children at risk of deprivation of liberty. This report noted that one of the most positive worldwide innovations in protections for children has been the US innovation of a separate rehabilitative-focused court for children.

The US was a world leader 120 years ago, and an active participant in the drafting of the CRC. As a world leader today, it is incumbent on us to examine our system of justice for children to make sure we are providing our children rights that are at least consistent with the global consensus on basic human rights for children in conflict with the law, as clarified in the CRC.

It is time for the US to once again re-imagine justice for children in conflict with the law, and ensure that all our children have the most basic and universally recognized protections of a reasonable minimum age of prosecution, and the protection of juvenile court (invented in the US) for all children under the age of 18.

Speakers include: 

• Amy Campanelli, Cook County Public Defender
• Betsy Clarke, President, Juvenile Justice Initiative
• Halim Flowers, Co-founder and Chief Strategy officer at Unchained Media Collective
• Robyn Gabel, IL State Representative 
• Luis Klein, Juvenile Justice Initiative
• Marcy Mistrett, CEO, Campaign for Youth Justice
• Toni Preckwinkle, Cook County Board President 

Hosted by Angela Vigil, Partner and Executive Director, Pro Bono Practice, Baker McKenzie 

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