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Defence for Children International United Nations Guidelines for the Prevention of Juvenile Delinquency – Riyadh Guidelines
In conclusionAs we already mentioned in our introduction, the United Nations Guidelines for the Prevention of Juvenile Delinquency are important for several reasons. The efforts of the United Nations in the field of juvenile justice are remarkable and challenging. This certainly goes for the so-called Riyadh Guidelines too. Indeed, the Guidelines are an expression of recent developments in the social and judicial approach to children. Children are seen less as objects, rather as fully-fledged human beings with their own capacities which should be valued and protected. The claim for the recognition of the human rights of children is complementing, step by step, child protection. The human rights issue is as challenging a concept in criminology. Prevention of crime is no longer restricted to the reactions towards “dangerous” behaviour or situations; prevention goes as much with the promotion and respect of human rights (civil, political, social, cultural and economic rights) in every individual. Here again the Guidelines are showing the way how such a fundamental starting point can be translated in policy and in practice. The Riyadh Guidelines are part of a recent but very strong movement for human rights (of children); their aim goes far beyond prevention of juvenile delinquency. A fair and just society is, with out any doubt, the best ground and the first soil for crime.
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