UNICEF continues to support government in its efforts to revise the juvenile justice system and harmonize it in line with international
standards, UNICEF Representative in Azerbaijan Hanaa Singer informed the Minister of Justice Fikret Mammadov at their meeting this week, Trend reports.
Azerbaijan is one of the countries which gives priority to the national initiative on inclusion of changes to the juvenile system and UNICEF office in Azerbaijan started work over the project on defense of rights of children in conflict with law, she stated. International experts with experience in juvenile justice, including consultants from the Children's Legal Centre at the University of Essex (UK) and other internationally renowned institutes, will assist national counterparts in capacity building of the key duty bearers accountable for
the protection of rights of children which are in conflict with the law (including police workers, judges, etc.) . The UNICEF-supported training will take place in early October.
The experts will also assist in conducting of an in-depth analysis of the laws and regulations governing children in conflict with the law.
One of the experts invited by UNICEF is already in the country, working with a number of counterparts on analyzing then needs for training and professional development of judges, police inspectors and the workers of the commission on minors.
The Justice Minister in his turn voiced his interests in the project and cooperation with UNICEF.
The Justice Ministry at present is working over a new program on increase of the professional skills of judges. Mammadov proposed UNICEF to participate in the development of part of an education program concerning the teenager crime.