A Supreme Court judgment highlighting the inconsistencies between how 16- and 17-year-old children are dealt with in criminal proceeding in Bermuda and internationally accepted standards has been welcomed by Family Centre.

The ruling by Chief Justice Ian Kawaley acknowledged that certain provisions of the Youth Offender’s Act (YOA) relating to child defendants were at odds with United Nations guidelines.

It has prompted the charity to call on the Bermuda Government to fully adopt the United Nations Convention Rights of the Child (UNCRC).