Inter-agency coordination

To increase quality and efficiency of its activities, the UNODC Criminal Justice Reform Unit places great emphasis on inter-agency cooperation. This is done through formal and informal mechanisms at the local, national and global level. A few examples are given below.

Juvenile justice

The Office is an active Member of the Interagency Panel on Juvenile Justice (formely known as the Inter-Agency Coordination Panel on Juvenile Justice), created by ECOSOC resolution 1997/30 which aims at coordinating international technical advice and assistance in juvenile justice provided by UN agencies and non-governmental organisations under the guidance of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child. The Panel has issued a joint publication of best practices and set up a joint new website. As part of the Panel several joint tools have been produced, including a UNICEF/PRI Juvenile Justice Training Manual and a UNODC/UNICEF Manual on the Measurement of Juvenile Justice Indicators.

The Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights (OHCHR) aims to ensure the practical implementation of universally recognized human rights norms. In the field of juvenile justice, OHCHR is committed to assist States in implementing the Convention on the Rights of the Child along with other relevant international norms and standards; and to follow-up recommendations made by the Committee on the Rights of the Child.

UNICEF is mandated by the United Nations General Assembly to advocate for the protection of children's rights. Juvenile justice is part of UNICEF's overall commitments to Child Protection, an area which addresses the prevention and response to abuse, exploitation, discrimination and neglect of children.

Defence for Children International (DCI) is an international network with members in some 42 countries. DCI has been involved in legal defence work relating to children ever since its establishment in 1979. Since the adoption of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1989, DCI has increasingly engaged in activities relating to juvenile justice. Currently DCI offers assistance to children in conflict with the law, and lobbies to include the issue of juvenile justice on the international agenda.

Organisation Mondiale Contre La Torture (OMCT) defends children against torture and other forms of violence, through urgent appeals on concrete cases of torture or other forms of violence and interventions on violations of children's rights before international and regional human rights mechanisms. Most urgent appeals issued by OMCT's children's rights programme fall within the scope of juvenile justice. OMCT reports to UN treaty monitoring bodies focus largely on juvenile justice, both in legal and practical terms. In its advocacy and capacity-building work, OMCT makes juvenile justice one of its priority themes.

Penal Reform International (PRI) works towards bringing criminal justice systems more into line with international standards, promoting alternatives to custody and improving access to justice. PRI's approach to juvenile justice focuses on the need to use the deprivation of liberty as a measure of last resort.

Save the Children UK, a member of the International Save the Children Alliance, works with children and their communities to provide practical assistance and, by influencing policy and public opinion, bring about positive change for children. Save the Children UK's work in children's justice focuses on promoting non-custodial, community based responses, which support the reintegration of children into their society and prevent re-offending.

Terre Des Hommes Foundation: Terre des Hommes Foundation is presently working in 30 countries, mainly with medico-nutritional and social programmes. However, the issue of juvenile justice, child trafficking and sexual exploitation have increasingly assumed importance. Awareness raising campaigns and advocacy programmes, frequently in partnership with other NGOs, are an important part of Terre des Hommes's mandate.