CRC/C/BGD/CO/4
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is concerned that the current helpline is not toll-free, does not operate 24 hours or daily and is not
accessible to all children.
91.
The Committee recommends that the State party ensure a helpline that meets
international standards and, inter alia:
(a) Allocate a 3-digit toll-free number accessible daily for 24 hours to all divisions
and districts of Bangladesh;
(b) Allocate sufficient funds for awareness-raising activities, training and capacity
building.
Administration of juvenile justice
92.
The Committee appreciates the efforts of the State party to address the previous
concluding observations, including the removal of some children from adult jails, the
establishment of juvenile development centres and the increased training for judges, magistrates
and law enforcement officers concerned with juvenile justice. However, the Committee
expresses great concern over information indicating that children younger than 15 years old had
been condemned to life sentences and children younger than 18 years old to the death penalty.
The Committee also notes with concern that the legal age of criminal responsibility has been
raised to only 9 years old. Furthermore, the Committee is concerned at the remaining number of
children in adult jails and ill-treatment of children in custody by police, the length of police
detention and the absence of juvenile courts.
93.
The Committee reiterates its previous recommendation that the State party bring
the system of juvenile justice fully in line with the Convention, in particular articles 37, 39
and 40, and with other relevant standards including the Standard Minimum Rules for the
Administration of Juvenile Justice (the Beijing Rules), the Guidelines for the Prevention of
Juvenile Delinquency (the Riyadh Guidelines), the Rules for the Protection of Juveniles
Deprived of their Liberty (the Havana Rules), the Vienna Guidelines for Action on
Children in the Criminal Justice System; and the Committee’s General Comment No. 10
(2007) on the rights of the child in juvenile justice. In this regard, the Committee
recommends that the State party inter alia:
(a) Ensure with immediate effect that neither the death penalty nor life sentence
are imposed for offenses committed by persons under 18 years of age;
(b) Raise the minimum age of criminal responsibility to at least 12 with a view to
raising it further as recommended in the Committee’s general comment No. 10 (2007) on
the rights of the child in juvenile justice;
(c) Consider the establishment of specialized juvenile courts across the country,
the appointment of trained juvenile judges and offer training for professionals;
(d) Limit by law the length of pre-trial detention of children;
(e) Continue efforts to ensure that children deprived of liberty are separated from
adults, that they have a safe, child-sensitive environment in police custody, and that they