This article by the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights explains the importance of ensuring that juvenile justice approaches incorporate compliance with children's rights standards in the United Nations and the Council of Europe. It explains the importance of a high age of criminal responsibility, the incorporation into juvenile justice systems of education, reintegration and rehabilitation, and the need to ensure that detention is a last resort. The importance of ensuring that children receive a prompt and a fair trial is also highlighted. The article concludes with reference to measures being adopted by the Council of Europe to secure the rights of children in conflict with the law.
