Providing children with an attorney as soon as involved with the juvenile justice system is crucial in any legal system. Early representation helps prevent rights violations and reduces the risk of obtaining statements made under pressure.

To explore best practices that ensure timely, effective and coordinated early representation for juveniles and practical procedures supporting early legal representation, five representatives from Palestinian justice institutions embarked on a study visit organised by EUPOL COPPS to Sweden and Denmark, from 08 to 11 December.

During the visit, the delegation, which included representatives from the Palestinian Civil Police, the Public Prosecution, the Ministry of Social Development, and the Bar Association, had the opportunity to exchange ideas on well-established European models on juveniles’ rights and protection.

The programme included a visit to Malmö Police premises to exchange on Swedish police procedures with juvenile.  The five-member delegation also visited Local Police Area Rosengård, Law firm Ståhl, Prosecutor's Office Malmö, District Court Malmö, Social Services Malmö and Save the Children in Copenhagen. At the Danish capital, the guests attending a   presentation on the rights of children. 

In June, four Palestinian institutions -- the Public Prosecution, the Palestinian Bar Association, the Ministry of Social Development, and the PCP have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) establishing a unified framework to guarantee early legal representation and social assistance for children during the initial stages of legal proceedings. The agreement outlines the responsibilities of each institution to ensure that both legal and psychosocial support are available from the outset.