The Cyprus School of Magistrates, taking into account the critical issue concerning "Child Friendly Justice", as well as its obligations arising from the training of judges during the adoption of new laws, proceeded with the organization of a web seminar on "The Law on Children in Conflict with the Law, L. 55(I)/2021".
The seminar was successfully organized on June 21, 2022, with speakers Ms. Despo Michailidou Commissioner for the Protection of Children's Rights, Ms. Giota Kyriakidou and Ms. Lia Markou and the two Presidents of District Courts.
The participants and the speakers were welcomed by the Director of the School, Mr. George Erotokritou, who in his address noted "that there was a great deal of concern among the first instance judges, especially those who were appointed as Children's Judges, as to how best to implement the new Law, since there were many ambiguities".
The speakers of the Seminar emphasized the purpose and the essential articles of the Law.
Of particular interest was the presentation of the main speaker of the Seminar, Ms. Despo Michailidou, Commissioner for the Protection of Children's Rights. Her presentation covered a wide range of issues concerning not only the procedure, but also the substantive rights of children under both the Convention and the law, in particular the special treatment children should receive and how to communicate with them. In her speech, Ms. Michaelidou stressed the great importance of the Law, as it is a milestone for child-friendly justice. She also praised the efforts of the School of Magistrates since she "recognizes the need to conduct training seminars in the whole effort to establish a set of rights that children should enjoy at every stage of the criminal procedure."
Ms. Lia Markou, presented the philosophy of the Law and the guidelines, and made extensive reference to the bodies involved in the Law, in order to provide the appropriate reflection for their involvement. In her speech, Ms. Markou pointed out that for the optimal implementation of the Law, the actors called upon to implement it should "have well established in their knowledge the easily understood and scientifically as I understand it widely known, that is, that children are different from adults and different treatment is justified".
Subsequently, Ms. Yiota Kyriakidou analyzed in detail the provisions of the Law concerning judges, while she also gave special emphasis on the obligations of the Children's Judge, the procedure that should be followed according to the Law, the measures and penalties that can be imposed by the court and finally the difficulties that currently exist in the implementation of the Law, especially in the imposition of alternative sentences for children. Regarding the new Law, he said that "Law 55(I)/21 has resolved many of the initial concerns because with its correct application, it is possible through the procedures provided for the rehabilitation of children in conflict with the Law and the safeguarding of their rights as children".
The Seminar was attended by Judges of the District Courts, who had the opportunity, through the discussion that followed, to deepen their knowledge regarding the implementation of Law 55(I)/2021.
(NΓ/EXP)
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