Children can get in contact with the justice system as victims, witnesses, perpetrators or in the course of custodial processes. In the past, the juvenile justice in Libya was deemed progressive as it diverted children away from prison and placed them in care institutions outside the prison system, if needed. After nearly a decade of conflict and instability, this system has been greatly affected.

The European Union supports the Libyan Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Social affairs to establish the necessary legal framework for an effective protection of juveniles in contact with the law. The project “Developing juvenile justice in Libya”, implemented by UNDP, UNICEF and UNODC, aims at developing a child-friendly system for children in detention, improving families and children’s access to rehabilitation and reintegration services. The project provides technical assistance and capacity building to relevant judicial departments, targeting prosecutors and judges, juvenile detention facility staff, police officers, public lawyers, and social workers.