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April 14, 2020  |  By Marisol Marín In News

COVID-19 How to deal with a humanitarian crisis of children detained in Latin America?

WhatsApp Image 2020-04-09 at 12.22.17 PM

Adolescents do not perceive freedom in the same way that we do, which is why in the face of a pandemic like that of COVID-19, we have to see not what we think they need, but what they really see as essential, according to Margoth Montaño,Head of the Cenvicruz Legal Area (Program for adolescents with criminal responsibility of the Departmental Government of Santa Cruz), Bolivia.

This opinion was given during our third webinar entitled: “COVID-19: Humanitarian crisis of children detained in Latin America”, where we were able to hear different voices from experts who work with adolescents in conflict with the law from various parts of the continent. 

During this event, Sofia Cobo, Doctor of Law certified by the SEP-CONOCER Program in Competition Standard No. EC1106 called: “Promotion of the Principles and Rights of the Comprehensive Criminal Justice System for Adolescents,” said that in a public health emergency situation such as the one that is occurring worldwide, the main consequences in young people derived from the pandemic must be analyzed from the paradigm that it does not affect all people in the same way.

Said opinion was shared by Ignacio Mayoral, adjunct Professor of Criminal Law and Mediation at the International University of Valencia (VIU), who added that equal solutions for all do not work, which is why specific cases have to be addressed specifically, so that everyone can count with the essentials during an emergency situation such as that of the Coronavirus. 

Adrian Piejko, Master in Human Rights and Democracy, specializing in Groups in a Situation of Violation of rights, currently works as head of the Tutator Foundation for Bolivia. He explained for his part that beyond the pro-freedom principle, in most cases it is an excellent opportunity to pursue juvenile criminal justice goals based on reintegration and dialogue.

The event was moderated by the National Director of Projects of JJAI, Sarahi García, who closed the conversation with two fundamental ideas: justice does not mean internment and if supervision in freedom was strengthened, it would not be so difficult to imagine being able to decongest the system and that more adolescents would be able to be with their families during the pandemic. 

During the event, it was recalled that Juvenile Justice Advocates International (JJAI) recommends the following to system operators:

  • Suspend the imposition of precautionary measures involving deprivation of liberty;
  • Provide parole to or probation when applicable to:
    • Teens with a medical condition;
    • Pregnant adolescents;
    • Adolescents with measures of semi-internment or internment during free time and replace it with home internment;
    • Adolescents with less than 6 months of time left in their custodial sentence  
    • Postpone or change sanctioning measures of deprivation of liberty in adolescent cases with non-deprivation of liberty precautionary measures.

This activity is the third in a series that we will be carrying out with experts in the area. For more information you can follow us on our social networks, or write to us at info@jjadvocates.org.  

It is worth mentioning that the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) has a publication entitled: “Principles and Good Practices on the Protection of Persons Deprived of Liberty in the Americas,” where it explains the general principles and those relating to conditions of deprivation. of freedom, which can be consulted here.

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Webinar on COVID-19, Humanitaria Crisis for Youth in Detention in Latin America – Spanish only:

https://youtu.be/3MOSFq_hE1M

March 26th Webinar on COVID-19 and Challenges to the Juvenile Justice System in Mexico – Spanish only:

https://youtu.be/52zianCu_3A

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Guerrero

Los adolescentes en el sistema de justicia en Guerrero requieren de gran apoyo, servicios y protección del crimen organizado, por lo que nuestro trabajo se realiza bajo un nivel considerable de inseguridad pública. Somos la única A.C. trabajando para ayudar al gobierno para que los adolescentes tengan una verdadera segunda oportunidad.

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CDMX

Vista como líder nacional en las prácticas del sistema de justicia, la Ciudad de México tiene más adolescentes en detención que cualquier otra jurisdicción. Sin embargo, también ha desarrollado una unidad de seguimiento en libertad con numerosas alianzas con organizaciones. Nuestros proyectos fortalecerán esta área crítica.

JJI está trabajando en la Ciudad de México desde dos vertientes. En Alternativas a la Detención con un monitoreo que comenzó en 2019, pero por causas sanitarias y la pandemia por COVID, se retomó dos años después con un equipo de especialistas el cual ya está preparándose para continuar la actividad. En Movilizando voluntarios, se continúa con los esfuerzos para reunir a más adolescentes con sus familias, gracias al apoyo: “Reunificación familiar”. Así como también se han realizado entrega de enseres en los 6 centros.

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Durango

A pesar de tener un número menor de adolescentes en el sistema de justicia, Durango es una jurisdicción que busca la mejora continua. Durango es el primer estado donde tanto el poder judicial como el ejecutivo han firmado convenios de colaboración para la implementación de nuestros proyectos de Alternativas a la Detención.

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Chihuahua

Chihuahua es nuestro sitio piloto y un estado considerado líder en la reforma penal en México. Nuestros proyectos comenzaron en el 2016. Desde entonces, los tiempos en detención preventiva han disminuido, los adolescentes son supervisados con mayor eficiencia en sus comunidades y se ha mejorado la calidad de vida de aquellos adolescentes que siguen privados de su libertad.

En Chihuahua trabajamos con varios proyectos, como son el monitoreo que se trabaja en conjunto con la autoridad, y con los adolescentes y sus familias trabajamos en talleres, mesas de trabajo, eventos lúdicos, acompañamiento post penal, reubicaciones y traslados de familiares para audiencias y visitas, así como donaciones de enseres, ropa y material deportivo.

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Chiapas

Ante la apertura de los operadores del sistema de justicia para adolescentes del estado de Chiapas, a partir del mes de diciembre del año 2020 se tuvo acercamiento con los operadores que encabezan el Sistema de Justicia Penal para Adolescentes en el Estado de Chiapas, con el fin de coadyuvar en dicho sistema y en pro de todas las personas adolescentes Chiapanecos en conflicto con la ley. Tanto que el día 26 de abril del 2021, JJI realizó la presentación de proyectos ante los operadores del sistema penal para adolescentes en la Sala de Presidentes del Poder Judicial del Estado de Chiapas teniendo una respuesta de interés de los presentes.


En el tenor del desarrollo de la relación institucional JJI continuó aportando varias donaciones a los Centros de Internamiento Especializados para Adolescentes ubicados en los Municipios de Berriozábal ”Villa Crisol” y Mazatán “Zona Costa” del Estado de Chiapas, ha entregado Kit de enseres, insumos para la prevención del Virus SARS-CoV-2, canastas básicas conformados por alimentos y artículos de limpieza e higiene personal.

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Chihuahua

A national leader in criminal procedural reforms, our pilot project in Chihuahua started in 2016. Since that time the rates and duration of pretrial detention have declined, youth are being successfully supervised in their communities and new programs in the detention center have improved daily life for those children still deprived of liberty.

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Guerrero

Working under the shadow of significant public insecurity, the youth in Guerrero’s justice system are in dire need of support, services and protection from organized crime. We are one of the only nonprofits working to help the government and youth in detention get a second chance.

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CDMX

Looked to as the national leader in youth justice practices, Mexico City has more youth in detention than any other jurisdiction but has also developed a robust probation office and numerous alliances with nonprofits. Our projects will further fortify this critical work.

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Durango

Despite being a smaller jurisdiction, Durango is constantly looking to improve. Durango is the first state where both the Executive Branch and Judicial Branch have signed Memorandum of Understanding to launch the Alternatives to Detention initiatives.

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Chiapas

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