PRI MENA organizes a workshop in Sana’a to discuss non-custodial measures in the juvenile justice system , “a case study in Jordan, Egypt and Yemen”

PRI’s Middle East and North Africa office organized a training workshop to discuss a case study on the non-custodial measures in the juvenile justice system, “A case study in Jordan, Egypt and Yemen”, between 25-26, August 2013, at Al Bustan Hotel in Sana’a, Yemen. The event took place under the patronage of His Excellency, the Minister of Justice in Yemen , and in cooperation with the Foundation, Together for Development and Human Rights.

PRI MENA had assigned Dr. Mohamed Mousa to prepare a study on the non-custodial measures in juvenile justice systems in the Arab region, based on information provided by the stakeholders in the targeted countries.

The keynote speakers at the opening ceremony were Mr. Mohamed Shabana, PRI Program Manager, Mr. Khalid Al Jabari, Executive Director of the Foundation, Together for Development and Human Rights, Ms. Fayza Yehya from the Ministry of Justice, and the workshop instructor Mr. Fawaz Al Ratrout , Jordan’s Ministry of Social Development spokesperson.

Mr. Mohamed Shabana, PRI Program Manager, presented the methodology and the content of the training program and spoke about the importance of the restorative justice, alternative sanctions, and the use of educational measures in the juvenile justice system.

Mr. Khalid Al Jabari, Executive Director of the Foundation, Together for Development and Human Rights, provided a briefing on the objectives of the training program.

Discussions started with a presentation on the “Evaluation of the juvenile justice systems in the Arab countries”, after which the participants were divided into five working groups, and were each assigned to read the study report and present their recommendations and proposals to their groups. Each group presented new recommendations which were not included in the original study.

The same process was made to discuss the outcomes and results of the discussion about the checklist for the inspection and monitoring of detention facilities.

The conference participants made the following recommendations about the study:

Recommendations:
1. To provide Mr. Mohammad Mousa, the study expert, with the comments and recommendations of the participants and reflect them in the study report.
2. To provide the Yemeni government with checklist for the inspection and monitoring of detention facilities, to be applied by the related authorities.