ICCPR concluding observations 2015, paragraph 23
Plain English recommendation
Government should: (a) Raise the age of criminal responsibility to meet international standards. Follow international standards for juvenile justice. (b) Increase efforts to cut the number of children in the juvenile justice system. (c) Ensure detention on remand is used for the shortest possible time and only as a last resort for child defendants. Suitable bail terms must be available for child defendants in Northern Ireland.
Original UN recommendation
The State party should: (a) Raise the minimum age of criminal responsibility in accordance with international standards and ensure the full implementation of international standards for juvenile justice. (b) Step up its efforts with a view to further reducing the number of children in the juvenile justice system. (c) Ensure that detention on remand of child defendants is used only as a measure of last resort and for the shortest possible period of time and that suitable bail packages are available to child defendants in Northern Ireland.
Date of UN examination
16/08/2015
UN article number
9 (liberty and security), 14 (access to justice and fair trial rights), 24 (rights of the child)
Original UN document
Download the original ICCPR concluding observations 2015 on the UN website