UNICEF NZ is set to host a delegation of government and senior officials from Cambodia this week (commencing 13 June), who will learn more about New Zealand’s youth justice systems and practices.

The law on youth justice in Cambodia is currently being framed and with a young population (children comprise 52.1% percent of the population in Cambodia), children at odds with the law often are usually treated in the adult criminal system.

The delegation is part of a working group set up by the Cambodian Government to revise their current approach to youth justice. The group is looking to learn from New Zealand’s approach to implementing youth justice legislation and is also interested in how we have integrated the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in the policy and legislative framework.

Attendees include Cambodia’s President of Appeal Court, Deputy Chair of Council of Jurists and members of the Cambodian Ministry of Justice.  The group will meet with the Chief Judge of the Youth Court, Children’s Commission, CYFS, Police Youth Aid and local organization Community Connections.

Dennis McKinlay, Executive Director at UNICEF NZ hopes the study tour will provide the Cambodian delegates with some practical ideas of how to approach youth justice, “The collaboration among central and local government with the grass roots, community based organisations is a unique feature of youth justice practice in New Zealand, as is the Police Youth aid team and the Family Group Conferencing system.”

This is the third delegation from an Asian country that UNICEF NZ has hosted for this purpose, during the last 6 months.  Other countries include Timor Leste and Mongolia.