State launches policy to improve juvenile justice in country

By LULU MAGINDE
EVERY child has a right to live their life, free from violence, United Nations Children’s Education Fund (Unicef) country representative Dr Claudes Kamenga says.
To mark the launch of the country’s first Juvenile Rehabilitation and Reintegration policy 2021-2030, Kamenga said children needed to be nurtured, in order to reach their full potential and contribute to the economic and social development of the country.
“I would like to re-affirm Unicef’s commitment to continue to work together with other development partners to support the Government of Papua New Guinea to ensure full and effective implementation of this policy for a brighter future for the children,” he said.
Acting director-general of the Juvenile Justice Committee at the Department of Justice and Attorney General (DJAG) Nichodemus Mosoro described the policy as putting in place a structure to measure the contributions of existing institutions.
“Rehabilitation is not a new thing, it’s been happening in the country, some on an ad hoc basis,” he said.
“How that leads to achieving development agendas for this country, the policy will either work with existing structures or develop new ones that don’t exist.’’
Juvenile rehabilitation facilities in PNG include Wewak, East Sepik; a remand centre in Hohola, Port Moresby; remand centres for boys and girls in Popondetta, Northern; a boys’ town in Erap, Morobe.