The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, ratified by Austria, accords special priority to the relationship between parents and child. Only in exceptional cases is separation from the parents against the will of the child justifiable. Likewise, the child’s right to regular personal contact with the parents is stipulated, provided that this does not conflict with the child’s best interests. What do these rights of children mean for the penal system? The incarceration of parents inevitably affects the child’s well-being. How do we deal with the fact that punishing parents is often contrary to the best interests of the child? And to what extent could and should children’s rights be considered in criminal legislation?

Very recently, these questions are given new urgency by a just published UN study on deprivation of liberty of children, which was led by Manfred Nowak. In the recommendations for implementation, states are called upon to ensure alternatives to deprivation of liberty, especially in the context of young children who are “incarcerated” with their parents “in the interest of the best interests of the child”.

The Albert Schweitzer House – Forum of Civil Society invites to the event on the topic “Children in Detention”.

After an introductory lecture by Reinhard Klaushofer (Austrian Institute for Human Rights, University of Salzburg), Ercan Nik Nafs (child and youth advocate), Christine Hubka (prison chaplain) and Klara Schwarz (public prosecutor) will discuss the topic.

Helmut Sax from the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Fundamental and Human Rights will moderate the event.

Please register at: bssvpr@nfu-sbehz.ng