“The legal systems of the former British colonies derived from British law and in most cases were simple copies of the criminal justice system of the colonial power. Children in conflict with the law often fail to have their rights guaranteed and are frequently treated in a manner inconsistent with a child’s sense of dignity and worth, despite all three states being party to the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC).To satisfy international standards, an effective juvenile justice system requires dedicated facilities for children at time of arrest, trial and detention. Here the systems in place in Sierra Leone, Tanzania and Zambia are examined in the light of recent original research.”
