Join the Children’s Law Centre, Include Youth, NIACRO and VOYPIC in partnership with and supported by The Centre for Children’s Rights at Queen’s University on Friday 25th November to discuss why it’s time to raise the minimum age of criminal responsibility in Northern Ireland.

On 3rd October 2022 the Department of Justice launched a twelve-week public consultation on increasing the minimum age of criminal responsibility (MACR) in Northern Ireland from 10 years to 14 years. Details about the consultation are available online and can be found here.

In compliance with international children’s rights standards the Children’s Law Centre, Include Youth, NIACRO, VOYPIC and the Centre for Children’s Rights are calling for the minimum age of criminal responsibility to be raised to 16 years, with no exceptions for serious or grave offences.

The event will take place in Riddel Hall, Stranmillis Road, Queen’s University Belfast.

In advance of the event you may find it useful to read the Queen’s Policy Engagement blog series on the Minimum Age of Criminal Responsibility. You can access all of the blogs, authored by a range of experts, here.