Child related cases have increased

Statistics have shown that compared to 2011, the cases submitted to the Juvenile Justice Unit at the end of 2012 has increased by 23 percent. The unit functions under the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Numbers show that 143 cases were submitted to the unit with regard to minors who had acted against the law. That is a 23 percent increase with regard to such cases submitted in 2011.

Based on gender, 124 cases were related to boys while 19 cases were regarding girls. The most number of cases were submitted during the month of April whereas the least number of cases submitted was during August.

Juvenile Justice Unit said that reflecting on the number of cases submitted last year the number of girls committing crimes has increased, and that most of these children have not been provided the adequate protection they require and have been abused repeatedly.

Statistics show that children in 60 percent of the cases submitted last year do not attend school while 30 percent of children attend school. Some of the children had stopped going to school from grades 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 while most number of children who cease their education had stop going to school at grade 9. Statistics show that children who had ceased their education commit more crimes.