International Network
“Juveniles, Justice, Social Security” : International Conference for the Twentieth Anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
4-5 november 2009
Milan, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore - Aula Pio XI
It has been twenty years since the United Nations adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child, ratified to date by 193 States (all countries in the world except two), and it is not an easy task to evaluate its effects worldwide.
Actually, on one hand, children rights have been reaffirmed in many venues, from international congresses to official documents, to the proceedings of scientific workshops, and even in the public opinion; on the other hand, however, the principles that inform these same rights have often been contradicted, betrayed, and ignored in reality.
The total or partial denial of children's rights is still present and pervasive in the world for diverse reasons: lack of political will or, sometime, resources, imprudence or negligence, intentional act of violence.
Dramatic aspects of this complex problem: children and penal justice
The aim of the international conference to be held in Milan 4-5 November 2009 is not only to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the UN convention, but rather to concretely spotlight one of the most dramatic aspects of this complex problem: children and penal justice.
Indeed, in addition 2009 marks in Italy the anniversary of the enactment of the new juvenile justice system, making it a doubly important recurrence.
Minors are frequently the victims when adult crimes are committed, and hence subject to violence, exploitation, abandonment and neglect, or anyway involved with the consequences of the crime itself. However, they can also be active participant in criminal activities.
We must investigate the causes of such activities and ask ourselves whether minors committing a crime should be considered victims themselves of societal injustices and contradictions.
Such a perspective must not lead to overlook individual responsibility; rather it must result in a better understanding of the dynamics of crime.
This is an old theme, discussed at length by practitioners of various disciplines, but still unresolved both theoretically and concretely through acts of prevention, correction, and social intervention.
The world is changing and globalization coexists alongside specific cultural traditions.
It is therefore important that experts and social agents from several countries and cultural backgrounds discuss the theme at hand and all its facets, as it will be the case at the international conference. Such diversity will bring to the discussion the contribution of vastly different social customs, values, legal systems and practices.
Actually, on one hand, children rights have been reaffirmed in many venues, from international congresses to official documents, to the proceedings of scientific workshops, and even in the public opinion; on the other hand, however, the principles that inform these same rights have often been contradicted, betrayed, and ignored in reality.
The total or partial denial of children's rights is still present and pervasive in the world for diverse reasons: lack of political will or, sometime, resources, imprudence or negligence, intentional act of violence.
Dramatic aspects of this complex problem: children and penal justice
The aim of the international conference to be held in Milan 4-5 November 2009 is not only to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the UN convention, but rather to concretely spotlight one of the most dramatic aspects of this complex problem: children and penal justice.
Indeed, in addition 2009 marks in Italy the anniversary of the enactment of the new juvenile justice system, making it a doubly important recurrence.
Minors are frequently the victims when adult crimes are committed, and hence subject to violence, exploitation, abandonment and neglect, or anyway involved with the consequences of the crime itself. However, they can also be active participant in criminal activities.
We must investigate the causes of such activities and ask ourselves whether minors committing a crime should be considered victims themselves of societal injustices and contradictions.
Such a perspective must not lead to overlook individual responsibility; rather it must result in a better understanding of the dynamics of crime.
This is an old theme, discussed at length by practitioners of various disciplines, but still unresolved both theoretically and concretely through acts of prevention, correction, and social intervention.
The world is changing and globalization coexists alongside specific cultural traditions.
It is therefore important that experts and social agents from several countries and cultural backgrounds discuss the theme at hand and all its facets, as it will be the case at the international conference. Such diversity will bring to the discussion the contribution of vastly different social customs, values, legal systems and practices.
