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The Standing Committee on Legislation Public Consultation on the Tonga Youth Justice Bill 2024

The Standing Committee on Legislation of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga invites the public to join its public consultation regarding the Tonga Youth Justice Bill 2024 (Lao Fakaangaanga ʻa Tonga ki hono Fakamaauʻi ʻo e Toʻutupu 2024).

This meeting will be held on Wednesday 16th October 2024, at 10am in the Chambers of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga.

The main purpose of this meeting is to discuss the Tonga Youth Justice Bill 2024 (Lao Fakaangaanga ʻa Tonga ki hono Fakamaauʻi ʻo e Toʻutupu 2024). This bill will be explained in detail by the relevant stakeholders and the public will be invited to make submissions.

The primary purposes for this Bill are to –

(a) prevent a child or young person alleged to have committed an offence from entering the formal criminal justice system and the adverse consequences which follow;
(b) provide an age, developmental and culturally appropriate response to youth offending;
(c) reduce pressure on the court system by diverting minor cases from the courts; and
(d) reduce the likelihood of a child or young person re-offending by addressing the issues that have led to offending behaviour, through the development of an appropriate and monitored Youth Diversion Plan.

The bill is as attached:

TONGA YOUTH JUSTICE BILL 2024 

For further details, please contact this phone number 24455.