Juvenile Justice Bill goes through second reading

Accra, July 3, GNA - Parliament on Thursday took the Juvenile Justice Bill, which seeks to create a system to protect the rights of delinquent children, through the debate stage - second reading. It would also provide for young offenders in accordance with international standards in the convention on the rights of the child and the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Administration of Juvenile Justice (the Beijing Rules).

In the report presented to the House by the Chairman of the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliament Affairs, Mr Kwame Osei-Prempeh said the legislation completed the package of laws by the Child Law Reform Advisory Committee established in 1995. It was set up by the Ghana National Commission on Children to review, revise and update the laws on children's rights, justice and the welfare of children. The report stated that although the Criminal Procedure Code 1960 (Act 30) provided that a juvenile or young offender was to be dealt with in a manner different from an adult, it was inadequate in many respects hence the Bill.