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UN Children's Rights Article of the Week

This week's UNCRC Article of the week is:

Article 37:

You have the right not to be punished in a cruel or harmful way.

What does this mean?

Content note: This article discusses violence.

Article 37 of the UNCRC says that children and young people:

• shouldn’t be tortured
• shouldn’t be imprisoned for life with no chance of release
• shouldn’t lose their freedom for no reason or in a way that is illegal.

Being arrested

Article 37 covers what happens if a child or young person commits a crime. It says they shouldn’t be arrested unless there are no other options, and that they have a right for lawyers to give them advice about their situation and represent them in court.

If a child or young person is placed in detention they should remain there for the shortest possible time, and should:

• be treated with respect
• if in their best interest, be kept apart from adults
• have their age taken into account when people think about their needs.