The Office of the Commissioner for Children shares the same view as UNICEF’s Chief Executive Director Carol Bellamy that “When the lives and the rights of children are at stake, there must be no silent witnesses.” In the light of the project undertaken by the Office relating to the Manifesto for Children, the Office will be holding a second public seminar entitled Children in Conflict with the Law to identify the needs of children with challenging behaviour in Malta, and the changes which have to be carried out to the present legal system to establish a children’s rights approach.

The second public discussion on the Manifesto for Children, entitled Children in Conflict with the Law, will be held on Wednesday 11th June 2008, at the Office of the Commissioner for Children, Centru Hidma Socjali, 469, St. Joseph High Road, Santa Venera, between 17.30 and 19.30 hours. The discussion will commence with a 15 minute presentation by the chairman of the discussion, Ms. Victoria Grech. The Office invites professionals working in related areas, the public, and children to attend the discussion, giving them a unique opportunity to share their experiences, and make recommendations.

Malta’s Juvenile Court system is in need of improvement to afford maximum protection to children with challenging behaviour. The discussion will deal with various issues including the role of the Juvenile Court and problems Probation Officers face in dealing with young offenders. Why are persons between 16 and 18 years old arraigned in the same Courts of Law as adult offenders, when they are still deemed to be children under Maltese law? Why does the youth section at Corradino Correctional Facility also cater for persons over eighteen years of age?

It is our pleasure to welcome you to the discussion, speak up on behalf of children, and help us improve the situation for children with challenging behaviour in Malta. For further information on the discussion please contact the Office of the Commissioner for Children on 21485180.