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Concern over SC confirmation of death sentence of child

STAFF CoRRESpoNDENT
The Juvenile Justice Network (JJN), a network of more than 25 organisations and individuals, yesterday expressed grave concern over the confirmation of the death sentence of a child by the Supreme Court.
The network, working to protect the rights of children in conflict with the law, urged the government to immediately activate the Juvenile Courts as provided for under the Children Act 1974 with absolute and expanded jurisdiction in every district.
Speaking at a roundtable, the network leaders also urged the government to amend the Children Act 1974 to ensure fair trial of juvenile offenders.
The roundtable on the issue of Shukur Ali Judgement by the Supreme Court was organised by Save the Children at its office at Gulshan in the
city.
Shukur Ali, a 14-year-old boy at the time of the offence, was sentenced for rape and murder by a Special Tribunal for Prevention of Women and Children Repression in Manikganj in 2001.
The Supreme Court later confirmed the verdict.
The case has now been referred to the President for clemency.
The network members said the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which Bangladesh was one of the first nations to ratify, clearly prohibits the application of the death penalty for children under 18 at the time of the offence, as does the Children Act 1974.
The children act further clearly directs that the purpose of the juvenile justice system is to protect and rehabilitate young offenders, not to punish, they added.
The speakers said the core principle of juvenile justice is that child offenders are not irrevocably spoiled but are capable of becoming full and valued members of society with the proper care and support.
The Network will request President Iajuddin Ahmed and Minister for Law and Justice Moudud Ahmed in this regard soon.
UM Habibun Nessa of Save the Children, Md Rafiquzzaman of Unicef, Francois Ramsay of CIDA, Jamil Hassan of Terre des Hommes Italy, Farhana Ferdous of Bangladesh Shishu Adhikar Forum and other representatives of the network spoke on the occasion.
Meanwhile, Manobadhikar Bastobayon Sangstha has sent a mercy letter to the President for Shukur Ali on November 14.