Through its press release on the occasion of the Day of the African Child celebrated on June 16th of each year, the Burundian League for Children and Young People (LIBEJEUN) drew attention of governments on the incalculable consequences of children who are born and grow up in prisons.

The league spoke of more than 500 children under 18 years of age imprisoned in different jails of the country and 75 per cent of them are accused of minor offences such as stealing clothes, goats or fruits. The LIBEJEUN also indicates that the majority of the children are orphans or household workers.

The league asked the Ministry of Justice to organize a liberation campaign of all juveniles in detention so that they can be rehabilitated. The press release concluded saying that “The same measure would also be applied to small babies who are taken to prisons with their mothers or those who are born there… We hope that this decision should be taken as soon as possible instead of holding endless discussions on this question”.

Article submitted by the Burundi Tribune

Link to Burundi Human Rights League