News / National
Zimbabwe set to 'protect child offenders'
24 Mar 2012 at 11:12hrs | Views
Justice and Legal Affairs Minister, Patrick Chinamasa told United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland that Zimbabwe is currently working on a programme to ensure that child offenders under the age of 18 are not exposed to the same criminal procedures as adults.
Zimbabwe rejected the suggestion by member states to strengthen punishment among child offenders saying the country already has some mechanisms in place to deal with child offenders.
The programme, which is being implemented on a trial basis in Gweru, Bulawayo and Harare is aimed at ensuring that justice is delivered while at the same time safeguarding the future prospects of the minor in terms of employment and professional development.
The United Nations Human Rights Council at its previous sitting in October last year made recommendations that Zimbabwe implement some 177 suggestions.
Out of the 177, Zimbabwe agreed to adopt 130 recommendations, put others under consideration and rejected some.
Among those rejected was the issue of homosexuality and the refusal to ratify the Rome Statutes for the creation of the International Criminal Court which Zimbabwe says is being used to punish leaders from developing countries.
Zimbabwe rejected the suggestion by member states to strengthen punishment among child offenders saying the country already has some mechanisms in place to deal with child offenders.
The programme, which is being implemented on a trial basis in Gweru, Bulawayo and Harare is aimed at ensuring that justice is delivered while at the same time safeguarding the future prospects of the minor in terms of employment and professional development.
The United Nations Human Rights Council at its previous sitting in October last year made recommendations that Zimbabwe implement some 177 suggestions.
Out of the 177, Zimbabwe agreed to adopt 130 recommendations, put others under consideration and rejected some.
Among those rejected was the issue of homosexuality and the refusal to ratify the Rome Statutes for the creation of the International Criminal Court which Zimbabwe says is being used to punish leaders from developing countries.
Source - Zbc
