Four children, all minors, are currently being held in Idiofa Central Prison in deplorable conditions without having been tried. This alarming situation highlights the dysfunctions of the local judicial system and raises crucial questions about the respect of the rights of children accused of crimes.
For several months, these children have been waiting in vain to be brought before the Peace Court, the only operational judicial body in the region. Some of them have spent up to five months behind bars, without their cases being processed in accordance with the established procedure. These young people, for the most part, are accused of malicious destruction, but are being held in preventive detention without having received a fair trial.
The alert launched by local civil society on this subject highlights the flaws in the Idiofa judicial system, where the Peace Court is full due to a shortage of magistrates. This situation jeopardizes the fundamental rights of these children, who are waiting in vain to be heard before a judge and to have their legal situation clarified.
Arsène Kasiama, coordinator of the new civil society of Idiofa, underlines the urgency of the situation and calls on the prosecutor’s office to respect the procedures in force. He denounces the prolonged detention of these minors, pointing out the inaction of the judicial authorities and calling for immediate action to guarantee respect for the rights of children brought before the courts.
It is imperative that the competent authorities act quickly to remedy this situation and guarantee fair and equitable treatment for these children detained in the central prison of Idiofa. Respect for the rights of the child and respect for judicial procedures must be at the heart of the concerns of local authorities to ensure fair and humane justice for all, including the most vulnerable in our society.