AMERICAS

At the regional level, Tdh is organizing a series of webinars that will allow to share good practices related to juvenile justice that will consider also measures related with the COVID-19 response. Tdh is also preparing a regional research to present the successes and challenges presented by the measures taken so far during the COVID-19 crisis.

In Ecuador, Tdh has been acting at several different levels. On one hand, Tdh monitors the actions of educators and team members at the detention centres to maintain accountability for such personnel and to provide technical support for planning recreational and educational activities for the detained children. Additionally, Tdh is involved in advocating for policy measures that reduce the detention of children due to minor offenses such as curfew violations. Tdh also works with local activists on providing general legal support for the defense of children facing imminent detention. Specific to the COVID-19 pandemic, Tdh is working with its partners and public institutions in delivering food and hygiene kits for 650 child detainees and 950 families that have one or more children in contact with the law. Tdh has also provided technical support to judicial institutions in order to coordinate a coherent response from this sector facing this crisis. Finally, Tdh is working to reinforce pedagogical teams from the detention centres that work with children detainees in order to provide them psychological support and to guide them in the organisation of recreational and pedagogical activities for children in detention during this crisis, because using time for structured activities is important to reduce stress levels among children.

In Colombia, Tdh has set up a follow-up call service for children who have gone through the penal system and have been released. This follow-up service focuses on physical reintegration of previously incarcerated youth.