Children's rights under pressure: planned reduction in penalty shocked!

Children's rights under pressure: planned reduction in penalty shocked!

Laimgrubengasse 10, 1060 Wien, Österreich - The controversy about reducing the freath of punishment in Austria reaches a new climax. The children's friends Austria decide the proposals from the FPÖ and ÖVP, which were initiated as part of their coalition negotiations on the formation of the new Styrian state government. Jürgen Czernohorszky, Federal Chairman of Children's Friends, criticizes that a lowering of punishment not only attacks children's rights, but also contradicts international standards. Instead of criminalizing children, he demands investments in their rights and future. He explains to prevention: "We have to do everything we can to contain violence, but are convinced that prevention is always the more effective, more sustainable and cheaper measure than any punishment," said Czernohorszky.

On Monday, September 2, an online panel discussion entitled "Children in court? In the case of a debate on the reduction in penalty in Austria" also took place. In this committed debate, various experts such as Tanja Kozak, a clinical psychologist, and Christine Winkler-Kirchberger from the Children's and Youth Attorney Upper Austria expressed that no child was born criminal. The discussion participants agreed that the idea of ​​putting children in prison was not a solution - rather it was a populist demand that is not geared towards solutions. Nadine Penz, the state chair of the Red Falken Upper Austria, also underlines the responsibility of the adults to create a safe environment for children and to support parents in their educational work.

call for re -socialization

The children's friends are committed to a return of the youth court court, which was previously praised internationally as a showcase project to protect children's rights. "Specialized judges and a clear focus on diversion are central building blocks of a modern and child -friendly judicial system," said Czernohorszky. The need to strengthen child protection and social work is emphasized by those responsible. Wolfgang Moitzi, state chairman of Kinderfreunde Styria, demands strengthening the prevention programs at schools and the expansion of child and youth welfare in order to offer the children a fair opportunity and sustainable support, while solutions are being sought to avoid crime. All of this shows that the protection of children's rights and sensible re -socialization must be the focus of the political discussion instead of further criminalizing them with a reduction in the feasitance. The topic continues to be controversial, as the discussion on September 2 showed and is critically examined by various experts.