UNICEF highlights the plight of child prisoners in Asia

[dArKeR]

AFP , BANGKOK
Wednesday, May 19, 2004,Page 5

Child prisoners in Asia are experiencing inhumane treatment and are at risk of sexual exploitation and drug abuse, UNICEF warned yesterday as it called for a regional judicial overhaul for the young.

The bleak outlook was laid out in a report by the UN fund titled Justice for children, Detention as a last resort, which called on Asian governments to find alternatives to prison for young offenders.

"Children behind bars face inhuman conditions and treatment. They are denied basic rights, such as decent healthcare and education, and are highly vulnerable to drug abuse, sexual exploitation and HIV/AIDS," it said.

Many children in detention have been convicted of only petty crimes or are awaiting trial, sometimes for extended periods, while others are guilty only of being homeless, or are victims of child trafficking and other forms of abuse.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2004/05/19/2003156106

Give those evil little bastards to Bush and Rumsfeld and they'll beat and sexually abuse some sense into them! Only GOP kin like Limbaugh and Noel Bush get free passes in the land of Equal Justice.