On July 24, 2016- High Judicial Council held a workshop on international standards of juvenile Justice and best practices for implementing Palestinian Juvenile Law in the Palestinian model, with participation from Head of Ramallah First Instance Court Amjad Lobadeh, Head of Juvenile Prosecution Yousef Al-Tarefi, General Manager of Legal Affairs at Ministry of Social Affairs Kholoud Abed-Elkhaliq and Gender and Juvenile Justice Expert Mrs. Fatima Dana representing SAWASYA Program.

In his speech, Judge Lobadeh indicated that the workshop came as a follow up activity to enhance joint work in the field of implementing the new Juvenile Law between HJC and MOSA and Prosecution and other partners in justice sector. He also added the HJC is working on institutionalize child-friendly judiciary within council work mechanism.

For his part, Mr. Al-Tarefi mentioned the positive aspects of the new law among them that the law considers juveniles as victims not criminals and provide care and safety for them.

Mrs. Abed-Elkhaliq talked about the role of MOSA in implementing the law and they send a letter to Board of Ministers in order to inform them with all latest achievements and challenges so as to re-commissioning the National Committee with new tasks. She added that the ministry will cooperate and coordinate to guarantee unification of work.

Mrs. Dana explained SAWASYA Program role and partnership with all actors.  

The four-day workshop targets 35 judge from First Instance court aiming to discuss reasons for violating law by juveniles, best psychological and social ways to deal with them, implementing child and juvenile law by MOSA, coordination with institutions working with juvenile justice and their role in its implementation, juvenile justice in the frame of International Convention on the Rights of Child, types of rights in Palestinian Law, best practices in implementing juvenile law, regulations of substitute families.