Cabinet okays Child Justice bill

The Cabinet of Barbados has given the nod of approval to the Child Justice Bill, 2022 and it will soon be laid in Parliament, says Minister of Home Affairs Wilfred Abrahams.

“It is envisaged that the enactment of the Child Justice Bill will bridge the policy gaps, and capture the legislative and institutional amendments necessary to provide a holistic approach to the protection of the rights of the child. The Act, once proclaimed, will make provisions for the reform of the criminal law applicable to children; and will repeal the Juvenile Offenders Act, Cap. 138; and the Reformatory and Industrial Schools Act, Cap. 169,” Abrahams said.

Among the major changes will be the removal of wandering, the raising of the age of criminal liability from 11 to 12 years old and treatment of the child appropriate with age and maturity.

Paired with the Child Protection Act, it will bring Barbados in line with safeguarding the rights of children and the international treaties to which the country is a signatory. (Nation News)

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