Ensuring the rights of children with neurodevelopmental disabilities within child justice systems

Summary A recent UN general comment on criminal justice systems includes guidance to state parties regarding the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child for children with developmental delays or neurodevelopmental disorders or disabilities. This guidance asserts that these children “should not be in the child justice system at all”, but when present “should be individually assessed” to enable appropriate safeguards and accommodations to ensure the protection of their rights without discrimination. In this Viewpoint, we examine the significant barriers faced by children who are affected by neurodevelopmental disabilities to the realisation of their rights under international law and standards. These barriers include systemic and cultural barriers created by a lack of awareness among justice professionals about how to identify and work with children who have neurodevelopmental disabilities, as well as procedural barriers, which arise from the complexity and rigidity of many criminal justice processes. The effect of these barriers is that the child is denied their rights on an equal basis with other children without such disabilities.