11 Jan 2012 • Juvenile justice Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso: 56 youngsters who did not have to be imprisoned

- Published by Darcissac, Marion

Since 2010, Terre des hommes has been backing a restorative juvenile justice which is still in its infancy. The first work done by the delegation enabled introducing and trying out work of general interest, then, by the end of 2011, mediation in the courts.

With only a low budget but with a large portion of goodwill, the small team specialised in juvenile justice from the Terre des hommes delegation in Burkina, strengthened by a solid partnership with the social services, the judicial and prison administration and the UNICEF is happy to be able to recount that in 2011, 56 youngsters in conflict with the law benefited from alternative sentences to imprisonment. “These youngsters could be removed from or avoided going to prison. The quarters for minors in the central prison of Ouagadougou, formerly crammed tight with 80-90 prisoners, is today half empty”, explains Thierry Agagliate, Tdh delegate in Burkina Faso.