Human rights workers have expressed concern and doubt over the adherence to certain safeguards in dealing with juvenile delinquents.
Specialists say that there are courts for children and instead of taking them to these designated courts, dealing with them at mobile courts and printing their photos in the media do not ensure their safety.
Though magistrates can declare mobile courts as children’s court with special attention given to upholding the certain laws made especially for children.
On Friday (Aug 23) last, members of ‘Star Bond’, a youth gang, tried to attack RAB members and after apprehension, 17 members of the group were sent to juvenile correction centre. Law states, anyone below 18 has to be regarded as a child.
A child offender has to be accompanied by a probation officer and efforts need to be made to contact the parents of such children.
The law further adds: “No picture or image of a juvenile can be printed on media or the Internet which may help others identify the boy or the girl.”
Director of child rights and governance of Save the Children, Abdullah Al Mamun, says: “Any child charged with offences has to be given the right to defend oneself.”
Additional Public Prosecutor Showkat Alam, observes: “In dealing with cases involving juveniles, we need to pay special attention to certain matters.”
RAB Executive Magistrate Sarwar Alam said: “We are very cautious about taking photos of women and juvenile offenders; but many people have smart phones and they click a shot and then the image is loaded onto social media platforms.”