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A background study for the formulation
of a Juvenile Justice Act has come up with some grim
statistics.
Juvenile crimes saw a sudden surge
in 1992-1993 hitting a record 153.6 percent increase
with petty crimes like thefts, burglary, gang fights.
Non-violent crimes remained high with the maximum number
of arrests being made for burglary and theft.
The study, based on the figures and
statistics for juveniles apprehended till December 14,
1998, says that there were many more boys arrested than
girls. Girls constitute one out of every 25 boys in
custody.
Urban Thimphu, Phuentsholing, Samtse,
Gelephu, Paro, Tsirang and Dagana were the main areas
for juvenile crimes with Thimphu highest on the list.
The statistics show a gradual shift
of juvenile delinquency from the poorer economic strata
towards the affluent class with a majority of the juveniles
being literate but dropping out of school before reaching
Class X.
The Chief Justice, Lyonpo Sonam Tobgye,
said that Bhutan's rapid socio-economic development
had, so far, taken place with very few negative social
problems but juvenile delinquency was a growing concern.
"It is a delight for parents to
see their children growing and agonising to see them
falling in humiliation," he said at a workshop
on juvenile justice. "Let us not curse our young
offenders for their fall but let us help them to stand
every-time they may fall."
To counter the problem a juvenile delinquency
rehabilitation center was established at Chimakoti and,
more recently, the Juvenile Justice Act was drafted.
Dealing with crimes committed by juveniles, the Act
will apply to all youths below the age of 18 once it
is approved.
The proposed legislation is divided
into six parts, covering a wide range of issues from
prosecution to hearings, bail, custody, protection against
social stigmatisation, appeals, punishment for cruelty
to juveniles, employment and exploitation, and parents
involvement.
Under the proposed Act parents are
as liable as the delinquents. The Act states that parents
are responsible for the care and supervision of their
children. Whoever wilfully neglects a juvenile or causes
him to be assaulted, abandoned or neglected in a manner
which is likely to cause the juveniles mental or physical
suffering is punishable with imprisonment, fine or both.
The draft Act aims to uphold the government's
policy and commitment to protecting the rights of the
Bhutanese child by enacting delinquency laws designed
to protect, rather than punish, young offenders.
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