April 25, 2007: Howard League Condemns Violence Against Children In Custody

The Howard League for Penal Reform has launched a partnership with Defence for Children International in the Netherlands, France and Belgium to prevent violence against children in custody.

Fundamental indicators will be developed, creating a framework for judging whether children in penal custody are the victims of violence. They will be presented to all 27 European governments in March 2008.

Research will be conducted in England and Wales, France, the Netherlands and Belgium over the coming year including interviews with children in custody. The indicators will include statistical information about the use of penal custody based on the principle enshrined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Article 37 says that custody should be a measure of last resort and for the shortest possible time. The four organisations stated today that custody that does not conform to this principle constitutes a form of state-inflicted violence.

Howard League Director Frances Crook said:

“This is an historic opportunity to protect the rights of children in custody. We are going to develop a set of tests to hold European governments to account, judging whether the improper use of custody - and their treatment in custody - is victimising children. If children are the victims of violence while in custody, then there is every chance that they will revisit that violence on the community when released. Children in custody are still children and should be treated as such.”

A second element of the indicators will cover the treatment and conditions of children in custody and will include recommendations for inspection, advocacy, family contact and aftercare. The international project is funded by the European Union Daphne II programme to prevent and combat violence against children, young people and women and to protect victims and groups at risk.