The Justice for Children Policy which seeks among others to strengthen programmes for the rehabilitation and social reintegration of children who violate the law would be launched in March this year.
The policy, which was approved by Cabinet last December will also strengthen formal and community justice systems and link them up to enhance access to justice and protection for children in conflict with the law, as well as child witnesses.
The Head of the Department of Children, Mrs Helina Obeng, who made this known to the Junior Graphic, said the policy would establish a well-structured and coordinated Justice for Children systems that will promote the well-being of children, prevent violence, exploitation and abuse
She explained that under the policy, measures would be taken to develop preventive measures rather than simply reacting to crimes or conflicts after they had occurred so that family disputes involving children and juvenile delinquency would minimise.
Mrs Obeng noted that cases on children would be tracked and scheduled separately from adult criminal matters and given due priority particularly where the child was on remand, adding that family courts would be automated to reduce unnecessary delays in the duration and adjournments in cases.
She further explained that the justice for children system would maximise opportunities for minor offences committed by children such as theft, minor assault, threats and unlawful damage to be resolved outside the formal system.
Mrs Obeng said institutions such as the correctional centres where juveniles had been committed to would be given the needed assistance to manage the offending or the anti-social behaviour of offenders with formal education, modern vocational skills or entrepreneurial exposure with the help of corporate bodies, NGOs or faith-based organisations.
Mrs Obeng also noted that criminal cases involving child victims would be managed by a trained police child protection desk officer while witnesses and victims would be treated in a caring and sensitive manner throughout the investigation taking into account their personal circumstances, age, gender, disability and level of maturity.
She indicated that the lack of a comprehensive national data on children in the justice system made it difficult to assess the full nature and scope of those issues.
The Head of the Department noted that a mapping of child protection issues conducted in 2010 revealed that young people who formed gangs, got involved in criminal activities and displayed unacceptable behaviour were some of the problems in both rural and urban areas.
She said available data from the courts with respect to children in conflict with the law suggested that a relatively low number of them were formally processed through the justice system with120 juvenile cases in 2011; 151 in 2012 and 173 in the first half of 2013.
