Prof. Manfred Nowak receives the 'Juvenile Justice Without Borders' International Award
The International Juvenile Justice Observatory (IJJO) announced on December 18th that Prof. Manfred Nowak has been granted the 'Juvenile Justice Without Borders' International Award for his efforts in conducting the United Nations Global Study on Children Deprived of Liberty. This award, now in its 8th Edition, is given biannually by the International Juvenile Justice Observatory (IJJO) to prominent professionals and organizations in the juvenile justice and children’s rights fields.
Prof. Nowak has been awarded for his work as a strong advocate for the implementation of children’s rights worldwide, in particular as director of the United Nations Global Study on Children Deprived of Liberty, which assessed the number and conditions of children in various detention situations around the world and proposed measures for their protection and rehabilitation. The IJJO also highlights his participation in different high-level forums and events, actively engaging with decision-makers to raise awareness of these issues and promote change.
This year marks the 8th anniversary of the 'Juvenile Justice Without Borders' International Award, which was created by the Observatory with the aim of recognizing and raising awareness about the great work, professionalism, and firm commitment of people and organizations who, from different fields, contribute to the advancement of juvenile justice and the protection of the rights of children around the world.
Prof. Nowak said "I am deeply honoured to receive this prestigious award on behalf of many different people who contributed to the preparation, presentation and dissemination of the UN Global Study on Children Deprived of Liberty. While the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child clearly stipulates that the arrest, detention and imprisonment of a child shall be used only as a measure of last resort and for the shortest appropriate period of time, we found that more than 7 million children are annually deprived of liberty in prisons, police lock-ups, special institutions for children and other places of detention."
In the words of the IJJO Chairman, Francisco Legaz Cervantes, "the individuals and entities awarded in this edition embody the fundamental values that the International Juvenile Justice Observatory seeks to promote through this recognition. Their work reflects an unwavering commitment to defending the rights of children and young people, creating opportunities for their holistic development and for the improvement of juvenile justice systems. Through their efforts in research, advocacy, education and awareness-raising, they have been able to bring about significant changes in legislation, practices and social attitudes."
Prof. Nowak is joined by the following six other awardees of the 8th edition of the award:
Prof. Dr. Adeela ahmed Shafi MBE (United Kingdom) Professor of Education in Youth Justice, University of Gloucestershire. Prof. Shafi has been awarded for her work in the research and development of interdisciplinary projects to improve education and training for young people in conflict with the law in custodial settings, promoting their educational and personal development, their interest in formal and informal learning, as well as their future employability. The IJJO highlights her efforts in investigating the most effective learning methodologies and adapting them to the needs of these young people.
Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth (United States). This organisation has been awarded for its defense of individuals deprived of liberty with extreme sentences for crimes that they committed as children, as well as its support to those released for their successful reintegration into society. The IJJO highlights CFSY’s advocacy, research, and awareness-raising efforts, which contribute to producing legislative, procedural, and societal change against extreme sentencing and in favour of rehabilitation, reintegration, and children’s rights.
Prof. Julia Sloth-Nielsen (South Africa) Emeritus Professor, University of the Western Cape. Prof. Sloth-Nielsen has been awarded for her distinguished professional trajectory as a researcher and academic, which has contributed significantly to the understanding and improvement of the legal and policy frameworks that affect children at both a national and an international level, including in the field of juvenile justice. The IJJO highlights her work on the development of international standards in children’s rights, as well as on the drafting of children’s laws in a wide range of countries, including Kenya, Mozambique, Zanzibar, South Sudan, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka, and South Africa.
Mr. Luis Pedernera (Uruguay), Vice Chair of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child. Mr. Pedernera has been awarded for his outstanding work in defending the rights of children in Latin America and globally, monitoring the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in different countries, and developing guidelines and recommendations for the continued development of these rights. The IJJO also highlights his work in raising awareness and reporting to governments and society, alerting them to the rights violations suffered by children in different regions of the world.
Univ.-Prof. Dr. Manfred Nowak (Austria), Secretary General of the Global Campus of Human Rights and Scientific Director of the Vienna Master of Arts in Applied Human Rights at the University of Applied Arts of Vienna. Prof. Nowak has been awarded for his work as a strong advocate for the implementation of children’s rights worldwide, in particular as director of the United Nations Global Study on Children Deprived of Liberty, which assessed the number and conditions of children in various detention situations around the world and proposed measures for their protection and rehabilitation. The IJJO also highlights his participation in different high-level forums and events, actively engaging with decision-makers to raise awareness of these issues and promote change.
Save the Children Spain. This organisation has been awarded for its many and diverse actions to protect the rights and well-being of children in vulnerable situations, and specifically those who come into contact with the justice system. The IJJO highlights its contribution through the publication and dissemination of research that raises awareness of the situation of these children and provides essential data and analysis that contributes to the development of policies and practices on child rights and juvenile justice in Spain.
UNICEF East Asia and Pacific Regional Office. This Regional Office of UNICEF has been awarded for its contribution to the promotion of children’s rights and the development of youth justice systems in East Asia and the Pacific through different actions of capacity-building, research, advocacy, and the implementation of innovative programmes in partnership with governments, NGOs, and communities. The IJJO highlights UNICEF EAPRO’s efforts to provide valuable data and insights that inform policy changes and improve professional practices in the region.
More information
Awards website
To learn more about the awardees, and see their photos and videos, please go to the International Juvenile Justice Observatory’s website:
https://www.oijj.org/en/ijjo-award/2024
The International Juvenile Justice Observatory (IJJO)
The International Juvenile Justice Observatory (IJJO) was established by the Board of Trustees of Fundación Diagrama in 2003 as an autonomous non-profit organisation within the internal structure of Fundación Diagrama. Its work focuses on addressing the issues faced by children and young people in conflict with the law, with an interdisciplinary and plural approach that is also sensitive to different realities and cultures, with the ultimate aim of contributing to the protection of their rights and the improvement of their lives.
This mission is centred on the promotion of the rights of children and young people in conflict with the law through the observation of juvenile justice systems from an international, interdisciplinary, and rights-based perspective, as well as the promotion and support of initiatives that aim to advance a fairer and more inclusive juvenile justice.
Contact:
Alfonso Andreo Almansa
Collaborator – Communications
International Juvenile Justice Observatory
Hashtag for social media: #JJWB2024
Global Campus of Human Rights Press Office: pressoffice@gchumanrights.org
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