CRC/C/PAN/CO/3-4 very poor and that there is no systematic inspection to investigate and evaluate actual conditions as well as violations to existing regulations. 76. The Committee recommends that the State party bring the juvenile justice system fully in line with the Convention, in particular by: (a) (b) detention; (c) Increasing the age of criminal responsibility; Reinstating the provision that forbids the extension of provisional Reducing the scope of provisional detention to fewer offenses; (d) Eliminating the possibility of granting extensions to investigate an alleged offence beyond the maximum time limit provided by law, and re-establish a maximum time limit to investigate cases related to minor offences; (e) Reinstating social-educational sanctions in case of recidivism for certain offenses and revoke the increase of the time in prison for aggravating circumstances; and, (f) Re-establishing the possibility that children turned 18 years old and sentenced to prison can conclude their sentence in a juvenile detention centre. 77. In doing the above, the Committee strongly recommends that all international standards be taken into account, 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 (CRC/C/GC/10). The Committee also reiterates that the State party make use of the technical assistance tools developed by the United Nations Interagency Panel on Juvenile Justice and its members, including the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), UNICEF, OHCHR and NGOs, and seek technical assistance in the area of juvenile justice from members of the Panel. 78. The Committee also recommends that the State party improve as a matter of urgency the physical conditions of pretrial and detention facilities, including sleeping and eating quarters, bathrooms, playrooms, and food and clothing, revise procedures and norms regarding the use and maintenance of such facilities, and train and supervise personnel. Protection of witnesses and victims of crimes 79. The Committee recommends that the State party ensure, through adequate legal provisions and regulations, that all children victims and/or witnesses of crimes, e.g. children victims of abuse, domestic violence, sexual and economic exploitation and trafficking, are provided with the protection required by the Convention and that it take fully into account the United Nations Guidelines on Justice in Matters Involving Child Victims and Witnesses of Crime (annexed to Economic and Social Council resolution 2005/20 of 22 July 2005). Children belonging to minority or indigenous groups 80. The Committee reiterates its concern that children belonging to indigenous groups and Afro-Panamanian children from poorer urban areas suffer cumulative disadvantages and discrimination that impact negatively on the enjoyment of their rights and their development, and that they do not receive services adapted to their culture, history and 16

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