The conference, in association with the Childrens Acts Advisory Board, will be opened by Professor Caroline Fennell, Dean of the Faculty of Law and Co-Director of the Centre for Criminal Justice and Human Rights, UCC and the Lord Mayor of Cork, Councillor Donal Counihan.

The aim of this two day international conference is to present the latest research on youth justice and to measure progress in light of international children's rights standards. To this end, the conference will combine speakers from a range of jurisdictions including New Zealand, Australia, United Kingdom and Northern Ireland, Canada, the United States and Europe, and will also present the work of Irish researchers and policy makers in order to identify trends and measure progress in the area of youth justice.

Day 1 (Thursday, April 3rd) will include presentations from an international field including Professor Chris Cunneen, Faculty of Law, University of New South Wales, Sydney who will present on how well Juvenile Justice in Australia complies with international standards and Professor Barry Goldson from the University of Liverpool who will talk about systemic human rights violations in youth justice in England. The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Mr Thomas Hammarberg, will address the conference on youth justice based on children's rights norms.

Day 2 (Friday, April 4th) will feature issues relating to the Irish Youth Justice system encompassing both policy development and service provision in Ireland - including contributions from Assistant Garda Commissioner, Louis Harkin, Michael Donnellan, Director, Probation Service, Michelle Shannon, National Director, Irish Youth Justice Service. The conference will hear about national and international perspectives on restorative justice and will also be addressed on issues relating to children and the oversight of policing. The Ombudsman for Children, Emily Logan, will also speak about the importance of listening to children in the youth justice process.

Note:

(1) The Centre for Criminal Justice and Human Rights was established by the Faculty of Law, UCC in 2006. The study of crime, justice and human rights raises complex and often challenging questions for lawyers and policy makers. The Centre seeks to contribute to national and international debates on these questions, through the promotion of cutting edge interdisciplinary research, innovative programmes of legal education and training, and key partnerships with Government, statutory bodies, civil society organisations worldwide.

(2) The Children Acts Advisory Board is an independent statutory agency with a remit to advise the Minister for Children on policy issues relating to the co-coordinated delivery of services to 'at risk' children/ young people, under the Child Care Act 1991 and Children Act 2001 (as amended).

See: http://www.ucc.ie/en/youthjustice2008/

Pictured at the Opening of the Conference "Youth Justice 2008: Measuring Compliance with International Standards" were: Dr Ursula Kilkelly, Faculty of Law, UCC; Lord Mayor, Councillor Donal Counihan; Professor Caroline Fennell, Dean, Faculty of Law and Co-Director, Centre for Criminal Justice & Human Rights, UCC and Mr Finbarr O'Leary, Deputy Chief Executive, Children Acts Advisory Board.

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