Adopted by General Assembly resolution 40/33 of 29 November 1985
1 Member States shall
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seek, in conformity with their respective general interests, to further the well-being of the
juvenile and her or his family.
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endeavour to develop conditions that will ensure for the juvenile a meaningful life in the
community, which, during that period in life when she or he is most susceptible to deviant
behaviour, will foster a process of personal development and education that is as free from
crime and delinquency as possible.
be given to positive measures that involve the full mobilization of all possible resources,
including the family, volunteers and other community groups, as well as schools and other
community institutions, for the purpose of promoting the well-being of the juvenile, with a view
to reducing the need for intervention under the law, and of effectively, fairly and humanely
dealing with the juvenile in conflict with the law.
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2. Juvenile justice shall be conceived as an integral part of the national development process of each
country, within a comprehensive framework of social justice for all juveniles, thus, at the same time,
contributing to the protection of the young and the maintenance of a peaceful order in society.
3. These Rules shall be implemented in the context of economic, social and cultural conditions
prevailing in each Member State.
4. Juvenile justice services shall be systematically developed and coordinated with a view to
improving and sustaining the competence of personnel involved in the services, including their
methods, approaches and attitudes.
5. In those legal systems recognizing the concept of the age of criminal responsibility for juveniles, the
beginning of that age shall not be fixed at too low an age level, bearing in mind the facts of emotional,
mental and intellectual maturity.
6. Aims of juvenile justice
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The juvenile justice system shall emphasize the well-being of the juvenile and shall ensure that
any reaction to juvenile offenders shall always be in proportion to the circumstances of both
the offenders and the offence.
The second objective is "the principle of proportionality". This principle is well-known as an
instrument for curbing punitive sanctions, mostly expressed in terms of just deserts in relation
to the gravity of the offence