PAKISTAN: CAMPAIGN AGAINST DEATH SENTENCE TO JUVENILES

May 18, 2011: National Juvenile Justice Network (NJJN) and organizations working in Pakistan for the protection of children urged the government and judiciary to stop charging juvenile offenders with inhumane charges including death sentences. The child supporters asked the Chief Justice, President and Prime Minister of Pakistan to intervene into the increasing plight of child offenders and review the laws regarding juvenile justice in the country.
“A number of children have been imprisoned ruthlessly and there are cases where child offenders have been awarded death sentences in far flung districts”, claimed NJJN members while addressing a press conference in connection with the launch of a postcard campaign to stop degrading sentences for child offenders in Pakistan.
Abdullah Khoso, Coordinator of NJJN said that the “NJJN in association with Child Rights Information Network (CRIN) and Defence for Children International (DCI) has launched the postcard campaign against inhuman and degrading sentences for child offenders in Pakistan.” The postcard includes a joint letter sent to the Prime Minister of Pakistan by the NJJN, CRIN and DCI-IS. The campaign is part of a global campaign initiated by CRIN against inhuman and degrading treatment for child offenders.
CRIN, DCI and NJJN urged the government to review the criminal justice system, mainly laws and practices under which children are made subject to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment which includes life imprisonment and rigorous imprisonment. (Sources: Pakobserver.net, 18/05/2011)