CRC concluding observations 2023, paragraph 34
Plain English recommendation
Government should: (a) Protect children from gang-related violence and knife crime and deal with the problem by: • dealing with the underlying causes of this violence and crime among adolescents • introducing ways to help children who seek protection against gang violence • supporting and protecting children to leave gangs • stopping children from being recruited as informants by law enforcement and intelligence organisations. (b) Do more to protect children from all forms of violence committed by organised groups, including ‘paramilitary organisations’ in Northern Ireland, and from being recruited by these groups.
Original UN recommendation
The Committee recommends that the State party: (a) Prevent and combat gang-related violence and knife crime, and protect children from such violence, including by: (i) addressing the social factors and root causes of gang-related violence and knife crime among adolescents; (ii) establishing child-sensitive early warning mechanisms for children who seek protection against violence of gangs; (iii) adopting programmes that provide children in gangs with assistance and protection to leave gangs and be reintegrated into society; and (iv) putting an end to the recruitment of children as informants for law enforcement and intelligence bodies; (b) Strengthen measures to protect children from intimidation, racist attacks and other forms of violence committed by non-State actors, including so-called “paramilitary organisations” in Northern Ireland, and from recruitment by such actors into violent activities.
Date of UN examination
18/05/2023
UN article number
19, 24 (3), 28 (2), 34, 37 (a), 39
Original UN document
Download the original CRC concluding observations 2023 on the UN website.