TASS FACTBOX. This piece contains information from the delegation of Russia’s most recent statement in the UNODC. The representative detailed key issues in the Russian juvenile justice system and potential avenues for reform, which vary greatly from those of many other nations.
Summary of Past Caucuses
The UNODC is caucusing on flaws in juvenile justice systems across the world.
Most recently, Belarus established a 10:1 moderated caucus on rehabilitation methods for youth currently residing in juvenile justice systems and for those soon to reintegrate into society.
Rehabilitation is necessary to ensure Russian society remains a cohesive sum of units, each producing fair output. Russia believes that every civilian, disregarding past circumstances, must eventually work and live self-sufficiently, greasing the wheels of the glorious, advancing Russian locomotive.
Accordingly, most delegations called for increased focus on rehabilitation in jails and prisons.
Russia’s foresight has caused the delegation to advocate for another track. Russia wants to first resolve corruption within the system preventing effective rehabilitation rather than implementing more rehabilitation methods.
Russian Juvenile Justice System
Corruption in many nations’ justice systems manifests in inadequate trials for prospective inmates.
To prevent corruption from degrading Russia’s judicial system, Russia calls for international monetary support to increase its preventative funding.
Major obstructions towards true justice in Russia is working to prevent:
- Lack of appropriate consideration in cases concerning minors — Russia’s juvenile justice system is not a distinct entity but operates within a broader legal framework. Thus, officials may forgo thoughtful consideration, viewing these cases as insignificant, and treatment of minors with dignity.
- Inadequate and unfair access to legal counsel, especially for the rural periphery and ethnic minorities.
- Discrimination of ethnic minorities in biased trials — Russia’s reclamation of territory, such as Crimea, increased diversity that must be honoured through equality in the legal system.
Increased funding will be allocated toward legal professionals’ education and training to eliminate these obstructions. The nation must first provide for its youngest generation in a fair manner before they can shoulder its legacy with pride.
Future of Negotiation
Smaller, developing countries currently suffer from corruption in juvenile justice systems due to struggling economies and lack of funding.
Russia’s prosperous economy marks the nation as a potential global benefactor — Russia has formed a bloc with the US and China on this front, wielding economic power to increase funding in countries across the globe.
This bloc will redress the root cause of juvenile justice system flaws, corruption, rather than Australia and the EU’s sole focus on rehabilitation.
The delegation of Russia assures the UNODC that increased funds will be strictly monitored and segregated from avenues enabling their usage in financial crimes, which the nation has assuredly not had a bad track record with.
Sleep is my drug….my bed is my dealer and my alarm clock is the police.
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