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Children in conflict with the law – children alleged as, accused of or convicted of having committed a criminal offence – are guaranteed protection and fundamental human rights through several international and regional instruments concerned with child justice. Nevertheless, these children are all too often held in police custody, detention centres, prisons and other custodial settings in violation of treaties, norms and standards.
This data brief presents global and regional estimates on the number of children in conflict with the law deprived of their liberty in the administration of justice. It also includes, for the first time, an analysis of trends at the global and regional levels.
The estimates can offer guidance to governments on where to focus child justice and child protection reforms. In addition, they can raise awareness of the urgent need for concerted efforts to strengthen the capacity of countries to more accurately and systematically count, monitor and report on these children by improving administrative data systems.