DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Jan 3: A one-day seminar on “international standards on juvenile justice” was held here the other day under the auspices of Dost Foundation, Peshawar.

A number of students, teachers, lawyers, representatives of various NGOs, police officers and journalists attended the seminar.

Dr Zakir Shoaib, project coordinator, said his organization had conducted various surveys and baseline studies on drug abuse prevention, rehabilitation of drug addicts and reintegration of juvenile offenders. He said although UN’s role had remained controversial, it had worked a lot for the humanity, including for the rights of children.

Ibrahim Yar Muhammad advocate said that during a survey in the NWFP, 447 cases of juvenile offenders had been identified, of which 81 per cent were under-trial prisoners while 19 per cent were convicted. An overwhelming number of such offenders — 84 per cent — was found to be of those who committed crime for the first time. Eighty-four per cent juvenile offenders had no legal assistance.