GNCRC defending juveniles and their rights

GNCRC defending juveniles and their rights

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Details: Parent Category: Nov 2011; Category: Week ending Nov 12th, 2011; Published on Saturday, 12 November 2011 23:27; Hits: 692

The GNCRC was involved in the recent stakeholders meeting convened by the Bar Association on Friday October 21st, as part of Law Week activities, in relation to young people and their rights when in conflict with the law.

The issue was placed on the agenda by Ms Sabina Gibbs, a young barrister who indicated that it was her experience that too many young people were attending Court as accused in the first place, and without legal representation.

She appealed to the meeting to try and find a way forward whereby the rights of young people to legal representation can be recognised in similar future situations.

The discussion also included the proposed legislation for Juvenile Justice and its implications.

It was pointed out that comprehensive representation of young people in Court has major financial implications if it is to be provided by the State and some discussion was held as to whether this possibility should be taken out of the proposed Juvenile Justice Bill.

The Grenada Coalition for the Rights of the Child expressed their alarm at this possibility and reminded the meeting that young people have the right to justice too in spite of their behaviour and therefore would be in favour of some kind of arrangement which might see the Legal Aid and Counselling Clinic being supported by Government to assist some young people when in conflict with the Law with regard to lesser matters while the Bar Association might be able to offer some support for greater matters.

This kind of system would have to be means tested to ensure that it is offered to those in financial need.

The meeting, chaired by Mrs Anande Trotman-Joseph, Attorney at Law, thanked Ms Gibbs for bringing the issue to the Bar Association’s attention and acknowledged that consciences will have been pricked by the discussion and more discussion was needed on the way forward in the matter.

Grenada National Coalition on the Rights of the Child welcomes feedback and comments on the issue of young people in conflict with the law and the causes and ways to prevent this.

We can be contacted on 435 0944 at our office in Lucas Street.

(The above was submitted by the GRENADA NATIONAL COALITION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD)