CRC/C/GC/24 and Non-Custodial Measures for Women Offenders (Bangkok Rules) (see also rule 9 of the Beijing Rules). In this regard, the Committee recommends that the States parties incorporate these rules into their national laws and regulations, and make them available, in the national or regional language, to all professionals, NGOs and volunteers involved in the administration of juvenile justice. 108. The Committee emphasizes that, inter alia, the following principles and rules need to be observed in all cases of deprivation of liberty: • Incommunicado detention is not permitted for persons under the age of 18 years; • Children should be provided with a physical environment and accommodation conducive to the rehabilitative and reintegrative aims of residential placement. Due regard must be given to their needs for privacy, sensory stimuli, opportunities to associate with their peers, and to participate in sports, physical exercise, in arts, and leisure time activities; • Every child of compulsory school age has the right to education suited to his/her needs and abilities, including to undertake exams, and designed to prepare him/her for return to society; in addition, every child should, when appropriate, receive vocational training in occupations likely to prepare him/her for future employment; • Every child has the right to be examined by a physician or a health practitioner upon admission to the detention/correctional facility and shall receive adequate medical care throughout his/her stay in the facility, which should be provided, where possible, by health facilities and services of the community; • The staff of the facility should promote and facilitate frequent contacts of the child with the wider community, including communications with his/her family, friends and other persons or representatives of reputable outside organizations, and the opportunity to visit his/her home and family. There must be no restriction on his or her ability to communicate confidentially and at any time with his or her lawyer or other assistant; • Restraint or force can be used only when the child poses an imminent threat of injury to him or herself or others, and only when all other means of control have been exhausted. The use of restraint or force, including physical, mechanical and medical restraints, should be under close, direct and continuous control of a medical and/or psychological professional. It must never be used as a means of punishment. Staff of the facility should receive training on the applicable standards and members of the staff who use restraint or force in violation of the rules and standards should be punished appropriately; • Any disciplinary measure must be consistent with upholding the inherent dignity of the child and the fundamental objectives of institutional care; disciplinary measures in violation of article 37 of CRC shall be strictly forbidden, including corporal punishment, placement in a dark cell, closed or solitary confinement, or any other punishment that may compromise the physical or mental health or well-being of the child concerned; • Every child should have the right to make requests or complaints, without censorship as to the substance, to the central administration, the judicial authority or other proper independent authority, and to be informed of the response without delay. Children need to know about and have easy access to these mechanisms; • Independent and qualified inspectors should be empowered to conduct inspections on a regular basis and to undertake unannounced inspections on their own initiative; they should place special emphasis on holding conversations with children in the facilities, in a confidential setting. 20

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