The establishment of a Family and Children Court in Vietnam is needed to ensure improved prosecution and judicial system in cases involving children, said Le Van Minh, head of the Institute for Prosecutorial Sciences under Supreme People’s Court, at a forum on April 14.
Minh said the physical and mental characteristics of children and juveniles required special prosecution and investigation procedures.
Although the Criminal Procedure Code has a separate chapter pertaining to children and juveniles, the current procedures are neither as comprehensive nor as effective as could be desired, especially at a time when the number of juvenile violators and offenders is increasing.
He commented that the children’s court was expected to be a practical move on the part of Vietnam toward fulfilling its commitment to the protection of children and their rights.
It would also help improve the database on children and juveniles, thus providing lawmakers with accurate information for the elaboration of proper policies and prevention of juvenile crime, he remarked.
Minh said that it was time for Vietnam to prepare human resources, facilities and funding for the establishment of a children’s court.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) recommended that the court should be “civilized,” meaning the judge and staff at court should not wear uniforms, the presence of police at court is limited, the police don’t wear uniforms or bring guns to court and social workers are present at criminal courts with children.
It also encourages reconciliation services and social services for participants in the Family and Juvenile Court.-
