Neuchatel Memorandum on Good Practices for Juvenile Justice in a Counterterrorism Context

A guide for those who must develop and execute programs and policies regarding the specific circumstances surrounding children who are in the criminal justice system charged with committing acts of terrorism or violent extremism.

In consideration of the increasing number of individuals under the age of eighteen who are charged with terrorism offenses,  the GCTF has set forth good practices as part of their Life Cycle Initiative to enhance the existing juvenile justice system as it relates to a counterterrorism context. This memo serves as a guide to practitioners and policymakers alike who must develop and execute programs and policies regarding the specific circumstances surrounding children who are in the criminal justice system charged with committing acts of terrorism or violent extremism.  

The document is divided into sections regarding:

The particular status of children

Preventive activities to help minimize the number of children who are drawn to commit acts of terrorism

Prosecution and adjudication of juveniles

Rehabilitation and reintegration of juveniles

Capacity building and evaluation

The good practices draw extensively on accepted legal frameworks for addressing juveniles who are charged with committing terrorism and emphasize the relevance of international law and international juvenile justice standards in guiding countries’ efforts. They recommend considering the specific issues associated with children, especially their level of maturity and their development. While many juveniles will be prosecuted primarily through the juvenile justice system, some individuals may be tried in adult courts and in these cases, countries are encouraged to consider appropriate juvenile protections.