TIRANA, Oct 30/ATA/ Justice Minister Toni Gogu proposed four measures to strengthen procedural safeguards for minors who come into contact with law enforcement authorities. The proposals were presented at a meeting of the National Council for the Rights and Protection of Children, which discussed the need for a joint action plan involving institutions, civil society and international partners.
The measures proposed by the minister include drawing up a statement of rights written in child-friendly language, to be provided before questioning; ensuring that minors being questioned have immediate access to a lawyer, in accordance with the law; notifying child protection officers at an early stage; and establishing a shared inter-institutional database to monitor how these safeguards are implemented.
Gogu presented the proposals as part of the government’s response to the violent incidents of recent weeks, stressing that accountability for actions committed must go hand in hand with protecting children’s rights.
“Peaceful protest is protected. Violence carries consequences. In responding to this situation, the Ministry of Justice has a distinct responsibility: the child,” the minister said.
He announced that the draft Cross-Sectoral Justice Strategy for Children 2027–2030, developed with technical assistance from UNICEF, is open for public consultation until 22 November.
In this regard, Gogu proposed involving children themselves in the consultation process, linking the initiative to 20 November, World Children’s Day.
The minister also said the Ministry of Justice was working to transform the juvenile institution towards a model centred on education, rehabilitation and family reintegration.
In parallel, plans are being developed in cooperation with the ministries of Education, Interior, and Health and Social Protection to prevent violence and dangerous situations in schools.
Gogu also linked this approach to the Ministry’s social justice initiative, stressing that services and legal protection must be accessible to every child, regardless of their family or financial circumstances.
“Justice must reach every child, even when their family has no lawyer, no connections or does not know where to turn,” he said.
According to the minister, the aim of the system should be to educate and rehabilitate minors, giving them the opportunity to build a future free from crime.
“A child who has gone astray should emerge from the justice system with an education, vocational skills and family support, rather than another criminal record,” Gogu concluded.
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