Latest news with #childrights
Zawya
4 days ago
- General
- Zawya
Justice Committee Chairperson Commends National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for Successful Prosecution and Life Sentences
The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Justice and Constitutional Development, Mr Xola Nqola, has commended the entire team that secured life sentences for all three accused in the human trafficking of the young Joshlin Smith. 'We can see that it was all hands-on deck to ensure justice for this little girl. The sentencing in this case is a critical step in the pursuit of justice for Joshlin and a stern reminder that our legal system will not tolerate crimes against children. While no sentence can undo the pain and loss, the committee trusts that this outcome reaffirms society's collective commitment to upholding the rights and dignity of every child in South Africa,' said Mr Nqola. Joshlin disappeared in February 2024. South African had to face the heart-breaking reality that her mother, Ms Kelly Smith, alongside her partner Mr Jacquen Appollis and friend Mr Steveno van Rhyn, sold her for R20,000. He said these sentences should send out the message that South Africa will not be a breeding ground for child trafficking. This is what the legislature had in mind with the Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act, Mr Nqola said, when it made provision for stiff penalties for robbing people of their freedom of movement. It is a heinous crime. 'Furthermore, we want to appreciate all the role players – the judiciary, the National Prosecuting Authority, and law enforcement agencies and the community at large – for their tireless efforts to ensure justice is seen to be done. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.
Daily Mail
24-05-2025
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Moment police arrest and handcuff two '10-year-old boys' as furious mother accuses force of 'pure abuse of power' in lead-up to Appleby Horse Fair
A distressed mother has accused police of 'pure abuse of power' after they arrested and handcuffed her son and another youngster right in front of her. The boys, both understood to be 10 years old, were approached by Cumbria Police officers in Kirkby Lonsdale yesterday morning after reports that a member of the public had been threatened with a penknife. However, following an extensive search no knife or other weapon was found and the boys were released. Cumbria Police later said in a statement they had been handcuffed 'for their and officers safety while the searches were completed.' But footage of the incident shows one of the boys clearly becoming agitated after being handcuffed - with his mother also becoming tearful at the sight of her detained son. Posting the video on social media, where it has so far been viewed tens of thousands of times, the distraught mother - who is believed to be from the Traveller community - alleged the police action had amounted to 'bullying'. The incident occurred in the run-up to the annual Appleby Horse Fair, which takes place next month and represents the largest traditional Gypsy and Traveller fair in Europe. In the short video, the mother can be heard pleading with the officer and says: 'He's a little 10-year-old boy.' She then attempts to comfort her son, who is visibly crying. Appealing to the officer again, the mother asks him not to handcuff her son, but he remains resolute. 'He's a f***ing kid,' she tells him, before the officer assures her that he will 'explain what he did'. The mother then says: 'Don't hurt him'. As the commotion continues, a second youngster is seen being led away by officers in handcuffs. A day after the incident, the mother wrote: 'Our boys were put in handcuffs on the basis of False allegations! Pure abuse of power and provoking behaviour! Bullying 10 year olds!' The impassioned mother added: 'You wouldn't see them doing this to any other community! 'And they wonder why our children are frit [afraid] of them, this could of been handled in a completely different manner. #abuseofpower'. In a statement posted after the video was circulated, a police spokesperson said: 'Cumbria Police are aware of concerns being expressed on social media in response to the handcuffing and search of two boys at Kirkby Lonsdale. 'At around 11.30am on 22 May 2025 Cumbria Police received a call for service from a member of the public reporting a group of boys on the path by the River Lune, one of whom threatened the caller with a penknife. 'Officers carried out a search in the area and located two boys based on the descriptions provided. 'Due to the report of a knife, the boys were handcuffed for their and officers safety while the searches were completed. 'A search was carried out and no knife located, and the handcuffs removed. 'Officers continue to engage with people in the area. 'Stop and search will be used as appropriate to ensure the safety of all communities as we work to ensure everyone has a safe Appleby Fair.' Around 30,000 visitors from all over Europe descend each year on the small town of Appleby-in-Westmorland, Cumbria, which has hosted the event since 1775. Cumbria Police said it employs an extensive policing operation to 'enhance public safety' at the event, with last year seeing more than 100 arrests taking place.
The Guardian
20-05-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
LNP's youth crime legislation condemned by UN as ‘incompatible with basic child rights'
The United Nations special rapporteur on torture has urged Queensland's parliament to vote down the government's headline youth crime legislation, calling it 'incompatible with basic child rights'. The Liberal National government ran on a slogan of 'adult crime, adult time' at last October's election. It passed legislation to sentence children convicted of 13 offences the same as adults in December. Parliament will consider a second round of legislation, adding an additional 20 offences, this week. In an open letter to Australian authorities, Alice Jill Edwards, the special rapporteur on torture and Albert K Barume, special rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous peoples, said Australia's criminal legal systems 'appear to be in crisis nationwide'. They warned that the system 'is creating a future under-class of Australians'. 'Children are suffering undue harm to their safety and wellbeing, as well as to their educational and life prospects as a result of shortsighted approaches to youth criminality and detention.' Edwards and Barume specifically singled out the Making Queensland Safer (Adult Crime, Adult Time) Amendment Bill in the open letter. '[The bill] would have an especially negative impact on the lives of Indigenous children, who are already disproportionately represented in the criminal legal system. We urge members of the Queensland parliament to vote against the bill,' they said. Edwards, a human rights lawyer, is the first Australian in the role. In April, Queensland's premier, David Crisafulli, criticised the UN for interfering in local politics, saying 'this place will govern its laws'. 'This place will determine how we keep Queenslanders safe, and this place will be accountable to Queenslanders, not United Nations boffins,' he said. However, the government has conceded that both rounds of legislation are contrary to state and international human rights law, with the youth justice minister, Laura Gerber, acknowledging the legislation would limit 'the right to protection from cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment and the right to humane treatment when deprived of liberty' by requiring the increased use of police watch houses to hold children. Some of the offences included in this week's legislation will apply to few or even no youth criminals. According to statistics shared with the parliamentary committee by the Department of Youth Justice and Victim Support, several have not been committed by a child in the last five years, such as accessory after the fact to murder or kidnapping for ransom. Others are extraordinarily rare; just one child has been proven to be guilty of kidnapping in that time. In total there were just 467 counts of the new offences committed in 2024. About 624,414 offences were committed in 2024, according to police statistics. Youth crime represents about 13% of all crime, according to the Queensland Audit Office. The opposition leader, Steven Miles, announced on Monday afternoon that his party would support expanding the laws. Labor also voted for the first tranche. 'We won't be opposing the LNP's attempts to fix their mistakes,' Miles said. 'Of course, we couldn't stand in the way anyway. The LNP has a big majority and so these laws will pass either way.'
ABC News
20-05-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
United Nations representatives urge Queensland parliament to vote down 'adult crime, adult time' laws
Two human rights experts have penned a scathing assessment of the Queensland government's latest youth crime measures, labelling them "incompatible with basic child rights". State parliament is expected to pass the second tranche of the LNP's flagship "adult crime, adult time" laws this week. The first lot of crimes where juveniles are tried as adults and face heavier penalties — headlined by murder and manslaughter — were passed in December. If the amendment to the Making Queensland Safer laws is passed, young people found guilty of 20 further crimes will be tried as adults and face heavier penalties. The offences include rape, attempted murder, arson, torture, and sexual assault. In an open letter to Australian authorities, United Nations (UN) special rapporteur on torture, Alice Edwards, and UN special rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous peoples, Albert Barume, said they had significant concerns about the next round of changes. "Many new or proposed state laws, including Queensland's Making Queensland Safer (Adult Crime, Adult Time) Amendment Bill, are incompatible with basic child rights. "If passed, the Queensland bill would result in additional adult penalties being applied to children for a wide range of offences. The pair said the approach to youth crime was in "crisis nationwide". "Children are suffering undue harm to their safety and wellbeing, as well as to their educational and life prospects as a result of short-sighted approaches to youth criminality and detention," the open letter said. The experts urged a "child-centred approach" to the issue, noting the age of criminal responsibility in Queensland and many states and territories was 10, younger than "most other industrialised countries". "The first goal should always be keeping children out of prison," they wrote. "We are extremely concerned that the system is creating a future underclass of Australians." The UN has repeatedly criticised the Queensland government's laws, with Ann Skelton — the chair of the Committee on the Rights of the Child — noting in December that they showed a "flagrant disregard" for children's rights. In response to further criticism from the organisation last month, Premier David Crisafulli issued a stinging rebuke in parliament. "I say to the United Nations with the greatest respect that this place will govern its laws, this place will determine how we keep Queenslanders safe, and this place will be accountable to Queenslanders, not United Nations boffins," he said. The Labor opposition voted in support of the initial changes and said it would support the new inclusions.
Times
13-05-2025
- Business
- Times
Ministers put surrogacy reforms on back burner
Children born through surrogacy urgently need 'better and clearer laws', lawyers say as they criticise ministers for shelving much-needed reforming legislation. The UK permits 'altruistic', as opposed to 'commercial', surrogacy — but the arrangements are unenforceable and critics argue that the continued uncertainty created by the law will drive more couples abroad to unregulated companies that exploit women in poverty. Surrogacy — where a woman bears a child on behalf of another person — has become more common over the past decade, as the age of women at childbirth increases and same-sex couples want children. Last year there were 592 applications for parental orders for children born to surrogate mothers, up almost 25 per cent from 2014. The number of applications regarding children born abroad
