兒少人權監督平台

來源 PDF: 84_20240301133903_4422836.pdf

《聯合國預防少年犯罪準則》

（利雅德準則）

聯合國大會 1990 年 12 月 14 日第 45/112 號決議通過並宣布

一、基本原則

1. 預防少年犯罪是社會犯罪預防的一個關鍵部分。少年透過參與合法的、有益社會的活

動 ， 以 及 對 社 會 和 生 活 觀 點 採 取 具 有 人 本 關 懷 取 向 的 態 度 ， 可 以 培 養 守 法 （ non-

criminogenic）的態度。

2. 成功預防少年犯罪需要整個社會的努力，應確保少年從幼年時期開始，在尊重並促進

其人格發展的前提下實現和諧發展（harmonious development）。

3. 為了詮釋本準則，應採取以兒童為中心的方針。少年應在社會中扮演積極的角色並建

立夥伴關係，而不應只被視為社會化或控制的對象。

4. 在實施本準則時，應根據各國的法律體系，從少年幼年期開始的福祉，應為任何預防

計畫關注的焦點。

5. 應認知先進的預防少年犯罪政策、系統性研究與措施制定與進行的必要和重要性。這

些政策和措施應避免對未嚴重影響自身發展或對他人造成嚴重傷害行為的少年進行懲

罰性處置。此類政策和措施應包括：

(a) 提供機會（尤其是教育機會）以滿足少年不同的需求，並作為支持性框架，保障所

有少年的個人發展，特別是那些明顯處於危險或社會風險中、需要特殊照顧和保護

的少年；

(b) 基於法律、程序、機構、設施和服務網，制定專業理念和方法以預防少年犯罪。這

些方法旨在減少少年發生違規行為的動機、需求、機會或導致不良行為的條件；

(c) 官方介入應優先著重於少年整體利益，並應遵循公平與公正原則；

(d) 維護所有少年的福祉、發展、權利和利益；

(e) 應考慮到少年不符合整體社會規範和價值的行為或舉止，往往是成熟和成長過程的

一部分，而隨著個體進入成年階段，這種行為自然而然的會從大多數人身上消失；

(f) 要認知主流的專家觀點，認為將少年貼上「偏差」、「犯罪」或「潛在犯罪」的標

籤，往往會促使他們形成一套固定的不良行為模式。

6. 為了預防少年犯罪，應發展以社區為基礎的服務和計畫，特別是在尚未設立任何機構

的地方。正規的社會控制機構僅應作為最後的手段使用。

二、本準則的範圍

7. 本準則應在下列國際文書的廣義範圍內予以詮釋和執行：《世界人權宣言》、《經濟

 社會文化權利國際公約》、《公民與政治權利國際公約》、《兒童權利宣言》和《兒

童權利公約》，並符合《聯合國少年司法最低限度標準規則》（北京規則）的內容以

及有關兒童和少年權利、利益和福祉的其他文書和規範。

8. 本準則應根據每個會員國當前的經濟、社會和文化的條件下實施。

三、整體預防

9. 全面性的預防計畫應由各級政府制定，並包括下列內容：

(a) 深入分析問題，查明現有的方案、服務、設施和可得的資源；

(b) 明確規定參與預防工作的合格機構、組織和人員的責任；

(c) 適當的機制，以協調政府與非政府機構間的預防工作；

(d) 政策、計畫和策略，基於預測性研究，在實施過程中，應持續監測和仔細評估；

(e) 有效減少發生少年犯罪的方法；

(f) 透過廣泛的服務和計畫實現社區參與；

(g) 在預防少年犯罪方面，國家、州、省和地方政府之間實現密切的跨領域合作，涉及

私營部門、服務社區的公民代表、勞工、兒童照顧、衛生教育、社會、執法和司法

機關等；

(h) 讓少年參與制定預防少年犯罪的政策和程序，包括利用社區資源、少年自助、受害

者補償和援助計畫等；

(i) 各級專業人員。

四、社會化過程

10. 應把重點放在制定預防性政策上，以促進所有兒童和少年成功融入社會。實現此目標

需透過家庭、社區、同儕團體、學校、職業培訓和職場等途徑，同時也需要借助非政

府組織的力量。應尊重兒童和少年適當的個人發展，且在他們融入社會的過程中，將

其視為完全平等的夥伴。

A. 家庭

11. 每個社會應優先考慮家庭及其所有成員的需求和福祉。

12. 由於家庭是兒童形成社會化過程的核心單位，政府和社會應努力維護家庭的完整性，

包括大家庭。社會為確保兒童的身心健康，有責任協助家庭提供照顧和保護。政府應

提供適當的安排，包括托兒服務。

13. 政府應制定有利於在穩定和諧的家庭環境中撫養孩子的政策，以及對於需要協助解決

不穩定或衝突情況的家庭提供必要的服務。

14. 在社區努力幫助父母解決缺乏穩定和諧的家庭環境的問題未果，且大家庭無法履行其

角色時，應考慮替代安置方案，包括寄養和收養。這些安置方案應盡可能複製穩定和

諧的家庭環境，同時為兒童建立永久感，以避免引起因連續轉移寄養（foster drift）而

產生的相關問題。

15. 應特別關注受到快速和不平衡的經濟、社會和文化變遷所影響的家庭中的兒童，尤其

是原住民、移民和難民家庭。由於這類變化可能破壞家庭傳統扶養和培育兒童的社會

能力，這樣的變化通常會導致角色和文化間的衝突，因此需要設計出創新且具社會建

設性的兒童社會化的方式。

16. 應採取措施並制定方案，為家庭提供學習為人父母的角色和義務、促進親子關係、使

父母意識到兒童和少年的問題，並鼓勵他們參與家庭和社區活動。

17. 除非影響孩子的福祉和未來，且沒有其他可行的選擇時，政府應採取措施促進家庭凝

聚力與和諧，並避免將孩子和父母分開。

18. 家庭和擴展家庭的社會化功能十分重要，且同樣重要的是要認識到少年在未來社會中

的角色、責任、參與及合作夥伴關係。

19. 為確保兒童享有適當的社會化權利，政府與其他機構應依賴現有的社會和法律機構，

但當傳統制度和習俗不再有效時，政府和機構應提供並允許創新的措施。

B. 教育

20. 各國政府有責任讓所有少年都能接受公共教育。

21. 教育體系除了進行學術和職業培訓外，應特別關注以下事項：

(a) 教授基本價值觀，培養對少年對自身文化認同和模式、對所生活的國家社會價值觀、

對於自身文化不同的文明，以及對人權和基本自由的尊重；

(b) 協助少年充分發展其個性、才能，以及心理與身體能力；

(c) 將少年視為教育過程中積極而有效的參與者，而不僅是教育的客體；

(d) 透過各種活動來培養、加強學生對學校和社區的身分認同和歸屬感；

(e) 鼓勵少年理解和尊重各種不同的觀點和意見，以及尊重不同文化間的差異；

(f) 提供有關職業培訓、就業機會及職涯發展的資訊和指導；

(g) 對少年提供正向的情感支持，並避免心理虐待；

(h) 避免使用嚴厲的懲罰措施，特別是體罰。

22. 教育體系應致力於與家長、社區組織和關注少年活動的機構合作。

23. 少年及其家庭應了解法律、在法律保障下的權利和責任，以及普世價值觀，包括聯合

國制定的相關文書等。

24. 教育體系應特別關注處於社會風險中的少年。應開發並充分使用專門的預防計劃、教

材、課程、方法及工具。

25. 應特別關注針對少年預防藥物、酒精及其他物質濫用的綜合型政策和策略。教師和其

 他專業人員應充分準備並接受培訓來預防和處理這些問題。應向學生提供有關藥物濫

用的資訊，包括酒精的使用和濫用情況。

26. 學校應成為為提供少年醫療、諮詢及其他服務的資源和轉介中心，特別是對於有特殊

需求、受到虐待、忽視、受傷或剝削的少年。

27. 通過各種教育計劃，教師、其他成年人及學生應能敏銳的注意到少年的問題、需求和

觀點，特別是對處於貧困、劣勢、少數民族或其他少數群體，以及低收入群體的少年。

28. 學校體系應追求並促進最高專業和教育標準，包括課程、教學、學習方法和途徑，以

及合格教師的招聘和培訓。應確保由適當的專業組織和主管機關進行定期監控並評估

其表現。

29. 學校體系應與社區團體合作，規劃、開發和實施符合少年興趣的課外活動。

30. 應向難以遵守出勤規定的兒童、少年及中輟生，提供特別協助。

31. 學校應推廣公平公正的政策和規則；在制定學校政策的過程中應有學生代表參與，包

括紀律政策和相關決策。

C. 社區

32. 應開發或加強現有基於社區的服務和計劃，以滿足少年特殊需要、問題、興趣和關注，

並為少年及其家庭提供的適當的諮詢和指導。

33. 社區應提供或加強各種現有基於社區的支助措施，包括社區發展中心、娛樂設施和服

務，以應對處於社會風險中的兒童的特殊問題。在提供這些協助措施時，應確保尊重

個人權利。

34. 應建立特殊設施，為無法或無處居住的少年提供充足的庇護所。

35. 應提供一系列的服務和協助措施來應對少年步入成年期所面臨的困難。這些服務應包

括針對年輕藥物濫用者的特殊計劃，強調照顧、諮詢、協助和治療導向的介入措施。

36. 政府及其他機構應向為少年提供服務的志願組織給予財政和其他支援。

37. 應建立或加強地方層級的青年組織，並賦予其管理社區事務並充分參與的地位。這些

組織應鼓勵少年制定團體和自願參與的計劃，尤其是與幫助需協助的少年有關的計劃。

38. 政府機關應負起責任，向街童提供必要的服務；並應隨時向少年提供當地設施、住宿、

就業，以及其他形式的協助資訊。

39. 應建立並提供一系列適合少年的娛樂設施和服務，並使之易於接近和使用。

D. 大眾媒體

40. 應鼓勵大眾媒體確保少年能獲得多元化的國內外資訊和資料來源。

41. 應鼓勵大眾媒體展現少年對社會的積極貢獻。

42. 應鼓勵大眾媒體傳播社會上為少年提供的服務、設施和機會等的資訊。

43. 應鼓勵大眾媒體（特別是電視和電影媒體）減少色情、藥物和暴力的呈現，不贊成暴

力、剝削行為、貶低及侮辱性訊息的呈現，尤其是針對兒童、婦女和人際關係等，並

促進平等主義原則和角色。

44. 大眾媒體應意識到傳播有關少年藥物和酒精濫用的消息時，其所擔負的廣泛性社會角色、

責任及影響力。大眾媒體應利用其力量，採取平衡的方式傳達一致的資訊以預防藥物濫

用。大眾媒體應在各層面推廣有效的毒品認識的宣傳活動。

五、社會政策

45. 政府機關應高度重視針對少年的計畫和方案，並提供充足的資金及其他資源，以有效

提供服務、設施和人力，進行充分的醫療、心理健康、營養、居住及其他相關服務，

包括藥物和酒精濫用的預防和治療，確保這些資源真正用於少年並使其獲得實際效益。

46. 將少年安置在收容機構應是最後的手段，且須為最短之必要時間，少年的最佳利益應

是首要考量。授權對此類正式介入的標準應有嚴格規定，並僅限於以下情況：

(a) 若兒童和少年受到父母或監護人的傷害；

(b) 若兒童和少年受到父母或監護人的性、身體或精神虐待；

(c) 若兒童和少年受到父母或監護人的忽視、遺棄或剝削；

(d) 若兒童和少年因父母或監護人的行為而受到身體或道德上的威脅；

(e) 若兒童和少年表現出對自身造成嚴重身心危險的行為，並且不是父母、監護人、未

成年人本身或任何社區服務可以用收容安置之外的方式應對的情況。

47. 政府機關應提供少年接受全日制教育的機會，並且由國家提供資金援助，以彌補父母

或監護人無法支援少年的情況，同時也應提供其工作實習的機會。

48. 應基於可靠的科學研究結果來規劃和發展預防犯罪的計畫，並定期進行監測、評估和

做出相應的調整。

49. 應向專業社群和公眾傳播可能對少年造成身心傷害、虐待及剝削的行為或情況的科學

資訊。

50. 通常參與計畫和方案應是自願的。少年也應參與計畫和方案的制定、發展及實施的過

程。

51. 政府應開始或繼續探索、制定和實施政策、措施和策略，不限於刑事司法體系內，以

預防針對少年的家庭暴力，並確保對這些家庭暴力受害者的公平對待。

六、立法和少年司法行政

52. 政府應制定和執行具體的法律和程序，以促進和保護所有少年的權利和福祉。

53. 應制定和執行法律，以防止兒童和少年受到傷害、虐待、剝削以及被利用於從事犯罪

活動。

54. 沒有任何兒童和少年應該在家庭、學校或任何其他機構遭受嚴厲或侮辱性的矯正或懲

罰措施。

55. 應追求旨在限制和控制兒童和少年獲取任何類型武器可能性的立法和執法。

56. 為防止進一步對少年產生傷害、污名化和罪犯化，應制定法律確保任何不被視為成年

人犯罪或不受懲罰的行為，若由少年進行亦不會被視為犯罪且不受懲罰。

57. 應考慮設立一個監察官（ ombudsman）辦公室或類似的獨立機構，確保維護兒童的地位、

權利和利益，並適當轉介其所需要的服務。指定的監察官或其他機構還將監督《聯合

國預防少年犯罪準則》（利雅德準則）、《聯合國少年司法最低限度標準規則》（北

京規則）和《聯合國保護被剝奪自由少年規則》（哈瓦那規則）的實施。該監察官或

其他機構須定期發布一份關於這些文件的實施進展和所遭遇困難的報告。同時，還應

建立兒童倡議服務。

58. 執法人員和其他相關人員無論男女皆應接受培訓，以應對少年的特殊需求，並應盡可

能的熟悉和利用各種方案和轉介機會，從而使少年遠離司法體系。

59. 應制定並嚴格執行法律，以保護兒童和少年免受藥物濫用和販毒者的傷害。

七、研究、政策制定和協調

60. 應努力建立適當機制，以促進在跨領域和該領域基礎上的經濟、社會、教育、衛生機

構和服務、司法體系、少年、社區和發展機構，以及其他相關機構之間的互動和協調。

61. 在國家、地區和國際層面上，應加強關於司法少年、犯罪預防及少年司法相關的項目、

計畫、實踐和倡議所獲得的資訊、經驗和專業知識的交流。

62. 應進一步發展和加強包括從業者、專家和決策者在內的涉及司法少年、犯罪預防及少

年司法事務方面的區域和國際合作。

63. 各國政府、聯合國系統以及其他相關組織應該強力支持在實踐和政策相關事項上的技

術和科學合作，特別是在培訓、試驗性和示範項目，以及涉及司法少年和犯罪預防的

具體議題上。

64. 應鼓勵共同合作進行科學研究，以找到有效的司法少年和犯罪預防的模式，並應廣泛

傳播和評估這些研究的發現。

65. 適當的聯合國機構、研究所、組織和辦事處應就涉及兒童、少年司法以及犯罪預防的

相關問題進行密切的合作與協調。

66. 根據本準則，聯合國秘書處應與感興趣的機構合作，在進行研究、科學合作、制定政

策選項，以及審查和監測其實施方面扮演重要角色。同時，聯合國秘書處應作為提供

預防少年犯罪有效模式的可靠資訊來源。

來源 PDF: 84_20240301133949_0566905.pdf

United Nations Guidelines for the Prevention of Juvenile Delinquency

(The Riyadh Guidelines)

ADOPTED

14 December 1990

BY

General Assembly resolution 45/112

I. Fundamental principles

1. The prevention of juvenile delinquency is an essential part of crime prevention in

society. By engaging in lawful, socially useful activities and adopting a humanistic

orientation towards society and outlook on life, young persons can develop non-

criminogenic attitudes.

2. The successful prevention of juvenile delinquency requires efforts on the part of the

entire society to ensure the harmonious development of adolescents, with respect for

and promotion of their personality from early childhood.

3. For the purposes of the interpretation of the present Guidelines, a child-centred

orientation should be pursued. Young persons should have an active role and

partnership within society and should not be considered as mere objects of

socialization or control.

4. In the implementation of the present Guidelines, in accordance with national legal

systems, the well-being of young persons from their early childhood should be the

focus of any preventive programme.

5. The need for and importance of progressive delinquency prevention policies and

the systematic study and the elaboration of measures should be recognized. These

should avoid criminalizing and penalizing a child for behaviour that does not cause

serious damage to the development of the child or harm to others. Such policies and

measures should involve:

(a) The provision of opportunities, in particular educational opportunities, to meet the

varying needs of young persons and to serve as a supportive framework for

safeguarding the personal development of all young persons, particularly those who

1

are demonstrably endangered or at social risk and are in need of special care and

protection;

(b) Specialized philosophies and approaches for delinquency prevention, on the basis

of laws, processes, institutions, facilities and a service delivery network aimed at

reducing the motivation, need and opportunity for, or conditions giving rise to, the

commission of infractions;

(c) Official intervention to be pursued primarily in the overall interest of the young

person and guided by fairness and equity;

(d) Safeguarding the well-being, development, rights and interests of all young

persons;

(e) Consideration that youthful behaviour or conduct that does not conform to overall

social norms and values is often part of the maturation and growth process and tends

to disappear spontaneously in most individuals with the transition to adulthood;

(f) Awareness that, in the predominant opinion of experts, labelling a young person as

"deviant"', "delinquent" or "pre-delinquent" often contributes to the development of a

consistent pattern of undesirable behaviour by young persons.

6. Community-based services and programmes should be developed for the

prevention of juvenile delinquency, particularly where no agencies have yet been

established. Formal agencies of social control should only be utilized as a means of

last resort.

II. Scope of the Guidelines

7. The present Guidelines should be interpreted and implemented within the broad

framework of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant

on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and

Political Rights, the Declaration of the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the

Rights of the Child, and in the context of the United Nations Standard Minimum

Rules for the Administration of Juvenile Justice (The Beijing Rules), as well as other

instruments and norms relating to the rights, interests and well-being of all children

and young persons.

8. The present Guidelines should also be implemented in the context of the economic,

social and cultural conditions prevailing in each Member State.

2

III. General prevention

9. Comprehensive prevention plans should be instituted at every level of Government

and include the following:

(a) In-depth analyses of the problem and inventories of programmes, services,

facilities and resources available;

(b) Well-defined responsibilities for the qualified agencies, institutions and personnel

involved in preventive efforts;

(c) Mechanisms for the appropriate co-ordination of prevention efforts between

governmental and non-governmental agencies;

(d) Policies, programmes and strategies based on prognostic studies to be

continuously monitored and carefully evaluated in the course of implementation;

(e) Methods for effectively reducing the opportunity to commit delinquent acts;

(f) Community involvement through a wide range of services and programmes;

(g) Close interdisciplinary co-operation between national, State, provincial and local

governments, with the involvement of the private sector, representative citizens of the

community to be served, and labour, child-care, health education, social, law

enforcement and judicial agencies in taking concerted action to prevent juvenile

delinquency and youth crime;

(h) Youth participation in delinquency prevention policies and processes, including

recourse to community resources, youth self-help, and victim compensation and

assistance programmes;

(i) Specialized personnel at all levels.

IV. Socialization processes

10. Emphasis should be placed on preventive policies facilitating the successful

socialization and integration of all children and young persons, in particular through

the family, the community, peer groups, schools, vocational training and the world of

work, as well as through voluntary organizations. Due respect should be given to the

proper personal development of children and young persons, and they should be

accepted as full and equal partners in socialization and integration processes.

3

A. Family

11. Every society should place a high priority on the needs and well-being of the

family and of all its members.

12. Since the family is the central unit responsible for the primary socialization of

children, governmental and social efforts to preserve the integrity of the family,

including the extended family, should be pursued. The society has a responsibility to

assist the family in providing care and protection and in ensuring the physical and

mental well-being of children. Adequate arrangements including day-care should be

provided.

13. Governments should establish policies that are conducive to the bringing up of

children in stable and settled family environments. Families in need of assistance in

the resolution of conditions of instability or conflict should be provided with requisite

services.

14. Where a stable and settled family environment is lacking and when community

efforts to assist parents in this regard have failed and the extended family cannot fulfil

this role, alternative placements, including foster care and adoption, should be

considered. Such placements should replicate, to the extent possible, a stable and

settled family environment, while, at the same time, establishing a sense of

permanency for children, thus avoiding problems associated with "foster drift".

15. Special attention should be given to children of families affected by problems

brought about by rapid and uneven economic, social and cultural change, in particular

the children of indigenous, migrant and refugee families. As such changes may

disrupt the social capacity of the family to secure the traditional rearing and nurturing

of children, often as a result of role and culture conflict, innovative and socially

constructive modalities for the socialization of children have to be designed.

16. Measures should be taken and programmes developed to provide families with the

opportunity to learn about parental roles and obligations as regards child development

and child care, promoting positive parent-child relationships, sensitizing parents to the

problems of children and young persons and encouraging their involvement in family

and community-based activities.

17. Governments should take measures to promote family cohesion and harmony and

to discourage the separation of children from their parents, unless circumstances

affecting the welfare and future of the child leave no viable alternative.

4

18. It is important to emphasize the socialization function of the family and extended

family; it is also equally important to recognize the future role, responsibilities,

participation and partnership of young persons in society.

19. In ensuring the right of the child to proper socialization, Governments and other

agencies should rely on existing social and legal agencies, but, whenever traditional

institutions and customs are no longer effective, they should also provide and allow

for innovative measures.

B. Education

20. Governments are under an obligation to make public education accessible to all

young persons.

21. Education systems should, in addition to their academic and vocational training

activities, devote particular attention to the following:

(a) Teaching of basic values and developing respect for the child's own cultural

identity and patterns, for the social values of the country in which the child is living,

for civilizations different from the child's own and for human rights and fundamental

freedoms;

(b) Promotion and development of the personality, talents and mental and physical

abilities of young people to their fullest potential;

(c) Involvement of young persons as active and effective participants in, rather than

mere objects of, the educational process;

(d) Undertaking activities that foster a sense of identity with and of belonging to the

school and the community;

(e) Encouragement of young persons to understand and respect diverse views and

opinions, as well as cultural and other differences;

(f) Provision of information and guidance regarding vocational training, employment

opportunities and career development;

(g) Provision of positive emotional support to young persons and the avoidance of

psychological maltreatment;

(h) Avoidance of harsh disciplinary measures, particularly corporal punishment.

5

22. Educational systems should seek to work together with parents, community

organizations and agencies concerned with the activities of young persons.

23. Young persons and their families should be informed about the law and their

rights and responsibilities under the law, as well as the universal value system,

including United Nations instruments.

24. Educational systems should extend particular care and attention to young persons

who are at social risk. Specialized prevention programmes and educational materials,

curricula, approaches and tools should be developed and fully utilized.

25. Special attention should be given to comprehensive policies and strategies for the

prevention of alcohol, drug and other substance abuse by young persons. Teachers

and other professionals should be equipped and trained to prevent and deal with these

problems. Information on the use and abuse of drugs, including alcohol, should be

made available to the student body.

26. Schools should serve as resource and referral centres for the provision of medical,

counselling and other services to young persons, particularly those with special needs

and suffering from abuse, neglect, victimization and exploitation.

27. Through a variety of educational programmes, teachers and other adults and the

student body should be sensitized to the problems, needs and perceptions of young

persons, particularly those belonging to underprivileged, disadvantaged, ethnic or

other minority and low-income groups.

28. School systems should attempt to meet and promote the highest professional and

educational standards with respect to curricula, teaching and learning methods and

approaches, and the recruitment and training of qualified teachers. Regular monitoring

and assessment of performance by the appropriate professional organizations and

authorities should be ensured.

29. School systems should plan, develop and implement extracurricular activities of

interest to young persons, in co-operation with community groups.

30. Special assistance should be given to children and young persons who find it

difficult to comply with attendance codes, and to "drop-outs".

6

31. Schools should promote policies and rules that are fair and just; students should be

represented in bodies formulating school policy, including policy on discipline, and

decision-making.

C . Community

32. Community-based services and programmes which respond to the special needs,

problems, interests and concerns of young persons and which offer appropriate

counselling and guidance to young persons and their families should be developed, or

strengthened where they exist.

33. Communities should provide, or strengthen where they exist, a wide range of

community-based support measures for young persons, including community

development centres, recreational facilities and services to respond to the special

problems of children who are at social risk. In providing these helping measures,

respect for individual rights should be ensured.

34. Special facilities should be set up to provide adequate shelter for young persons

who are no longer able to live at or who do not have s to live in.

35. A range of services and helping measures should be provided to deal with the

difficulties experienced by young persons in the transition to adulthood. Such services

should include special programmes for young drug abusers which emphasize care,

counselling, assistance and therapy-oriented interventions.

36. Voluntary organizations providing services for young persons should be given

financial and other support by Governments and other institutions.

37. Youth organizations should be created or strengthened at the local level and given

full participatory status in the management of community affairs. These organizations

should encourage youth to organize collective and voluntary projects, particularly

projects aimed at helping young persons in need of assistance.

38. Government agencies should take special responsibility and provide necessary

services for less or street children; information about local facilities, accommodation,

employment and other forms and sources of help should be made readily available to

young persons.

39. A wide range of recreational facilities and services of particular interest to young

persons should be established and made easily accessible to them.

7

D. Mass media

40. The mass media should be encouraged to ensure that young persons have access

to information and material from a diversity of national and international sources.

41. The mass media should be encouraged to portray the positive contribution of

young persons to society.

42. The mass media should be encouraged to disseminate information on the

existence of services, facilities and opportunities for young persons in society.

43. The mass media generally, and the television and film media in particular, should

be encouraged to minimize the level of pornography, drugs and violence portrayed

and to display violence and exploitation disfavourably, as well as to avoid demeaning

and degrading presentations, especially of children, women and interpersonal

relations, and to promote egalitarian principles and roles.

44. The mass media should be aware of its extensive social role and responsibility, as

well as its influence, in communications relating to youthful drug and alcohol abuse.

It should use its power for drug abuse prevention by relaying consistent messages

through a balanced approach. Effective drug awareness campaigns at all levels should

be promoted.

V. Social policy

45. Government agencies should give high priority to plans and programmes for

young persons and should provide sufficient funds and other resources for the

effective delivery of services, facilities and staff for adequate medical and mental

health care, nutrition, housing and other relevant services, including drug and alcohol

abuse prevention and treatment, ensuring that such resources reach and actually

benefit young persons.

46. The institutionalization of young persons should be a measure of last resort and

for the minimum necessary period, and the best interests of the young person should

be of paramount importance. Criteria authorizing formal intervention of this type

should be strictly defined and limited to the following situations: (a) where the child

or young person has suffered harm that has been inflicted by the parents or guardians;

(b) where the child or young person has been sexually, physically or emotionally

abused by the parents or guardians; (c) where the child or young person has been

neglected, abandoned or exploited by the parents or guardians; (d) where the child or

8

young person is threatened by physical or moral danger due to the behaviour of the

parents or guardians; and (e) where a serious physical or psychological danger to the

child or young person has manifested itself in his or her own behaviour and neither

the parents, the guardians, the juvenile himself or herself nor non-residential

community services can meet the danger by means other than institutionalization.

47. Government agencies should provide young persons with the opportunity of

continuing in full-time education, funded by the State where parents or guardians are

unable to support the young persons, and of receiving work experience.

48. Programmes to prevent delinquency should be planned and developed on the basis

of reliable, scientific research findings, and periodically monitored, evaluated and

adjusted accordingly.

49. Scientific information should be disseminated to the professional community and

to the public at large about the sort of behaviour or situation which indicates or may

result in physical and psychological victimization, harm and abuse, as well as

exploitation, of young persons.

50. Generally, participation in plans and programmes should be voluntary. Young

persons themselves should be involved in their formulation, development and

implementation.

51. Government should begin or continue to explore, develop and implement policies,

measures and strategies within and outside the criminal justice system to prevent

domestic violence against and affecting young persons and to ensure fair treatment to

these victims of domestic violence.

VI. Legislation and juvenile justice administration

52. Governments should enact and enforce specific laws and procedures to promote

and protect the rights and well-being of all young persons.

53. Legislation preventing the victimization, abuse, exploitation and the use for

criminal activities of children and young persons should be enacted and enforced.

54. No child or young person should be subjected to harsh or degrading correction or

punishment measures at , in schools or in any other institutions.

9

55. Legislation and enforcement aimed at restricting and controlling accessibility of

weapons of any sort to children and young persons should be pursued.

56. In order to prevent further stigmatization, victimization and criminalization of

young persons, legislation should be enacted to ensure that any conduct not

considered an offence or not penalized if committed by an adult is not considered an

offence and not penalized if committed by a young person.

57. Consideration should be given to the establishment of an office of ombudsman or

similar independent organ, which would ensure that the status, rights and interests of

young persons are upheld and that proper referral to available services is made. The

ombudsman or other organ designated would also supervise the implementation of the

Riyadh Guidelines, the Beijing Rules and the Rules for the Protection of Juveniles

Deprived of their Liberty. The ombudsman or other organ would, at regular intervals,

publish a report on the progress made and on the difficulties encountered in the

implementation of the instrument. Child advocacy services should also be established.

58. Law enforcement and other relevant personnel, of both sexes, should be trained to

respond to the special needs of young persons and should be familiar with and use, to

the maximum extent possible, programmes and referral possibilities for the diversion

of young persons from the justice system.

59. Legislation should be enacted and strictly enforced to protect children and young

persons from drug abuse and drug traffickers.

VII. Research, policy development and coordination

60. Efforts should be made and appropriate mechanisms established to promote, on

both a multidisciplinary and an intradisciplinary basis, interaction and coordination

between economic, social, education and health agencies and services, the justice

system, youth, community and development agencies and other relevant institutions.

61. The exchange of information, experience and expertise gained through projects,

programmes, practices and initiatives relating to youth crime, delinquency prevention

and juvenile justice should be intensified at the national, regional and international

levels.

62. Regional and international co-operation on matters of youth crime, delinquency

prevention and juvenile justice involving practitioners, experts and decision makers

should be further developed and strengthened.

10

63. Technical and scientific cooperation on practical and policy-related matters,

particularly in training, pilot and demonstration projects, and on specific issues

concerning the prevention of youth crime and juvenile delinquency should be strongly

supported by all Governments, the United Nations system and other concerned

organizations.

64. Collaboration should be encouraged in undertaking scientific research with

respect to effective modalities for youth crime and juvenile delinquency prevention

and the findings of such research should be widely disseminated and evaluated.

65. Appropriate United Nations bodies, institutes, agencies and offices should pursue

close collaboration and coordination on various questions related to children juvenile

justice and youth crime and juvenile delinquency prevention.

66. On the basis of the present Guidelines, the United Nations Secretariat, in

cooperation with interested institutions, should play an active role in the conduct of

research, scientific collaboration, the formulation of policy options and the review and

monitoring of their implementation, and should serve as a source of reliable

information on effective modalities for delinquency prevention.

11