Ceps hosts forum on juvenile court cases |20 June 2018
As part of celebrations to mark the 25th anniversary of our constitution, the Citizens Engagement Platform Seychelles (Ceps), in partnership with several stakeholders and non-governmental organisations, last Friday hosted a forum under the theme ‘Let’s talk about Juvenile’.
The forum focused on what can be done to reduce the number of cases involving juveniles who appear before that court and how they can be assisted.
The aim was to get the stakeholders together with the general public to voice out their views on the juvenile court and juvenile centre in Seychelles.
The organisers believed it is necessary for children and adolescents to know more on the judiciary and the laws governing minors. This will allow them to know there are consequences to their actions even if they are underage.
Topics discussed covered different aspects of the definition of juvenile; the juvenile court; restrictions on imprisonment; methods of dealing with children charged with offences; the objectives of the juvenile centre; procedures to enter the centre among others.
Representatives from the Ministry of Family Affairs; department of social affairs, the Attorney General’s office; the Judiciary; the department of education; the Seychelles Police Force; district administrators; members of parents teachers association; the Seychelles National Youth Council (SNYC) youth, health, Ceps and secondary school students attended the forum.
According to statistics, the juvenile court registered 65 cases in 2017. There are 17 cases registered up to May this year. In most cases it is young boys who are facing the courts.
“It is alarming. Over three years we have seen over 150 cases before that court. Based on this information, Ceps envisages to bring these issues further. We also plan to go to schools to sensitise and educate the youths with the hope of reducing the number of cases. Therefore bringing a certain contribution from civil societies,” said Michel Pierre, the chief executive of Ceps.
The secondary school students managed to learn more on the juvenile court; offences they should avoid and certain shocking cases that have to pass judgement.