Queensland’s new laws will allow children as young as 10 to be sentenced as adults for serious crimes, a policy championed by the LNP government as prioritizing victims’ rights. While the government cites community outrage and claims it will deter crime, experts and international bodies like the UN condemn the changes, citing evidence that harsher penalties don’t reduce youth crime and violate children’s human rights. The legislation removes provisions favoring non-custodial sentences, increases the likelihood of lengthy police cell stays, and disproportionately affects Indigenous children. Despite data showing a fourteen-year decline in youth crime, the government maintains the changes are necessary.
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Colombia’s congress has passed a bill raising the minimum age for marriage to 18, aiming to safeguard the rights and future of minors. This crucial step, which still requires presidential approval, seeks to combat the harmful practice of child marriage, a global issue that disproportionately affects young girls. While child marriage rates have been decreasing globally, they remain a serious concern, especially in Latin America where poverty contributes significantly to the practice. This legislation represents a significant step towards protecting children from the exploitation and deprivation associated with early marriage.
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As a resident of Florida, the recent bill signed by Governor Ron DeSantis, banning children under 14 from having social media accounts, has sparked a myriad of thoughts and reactions within me. The idea of restricting young children’s access to social media is not entirely unfounded, as the digital landscape can be a dangerous place for impressionable minds. However, the execution and enforcement of such a law raise several concerns and questions.
The practicality of enforcing this ban seems dubious, to say the least. With the prevalence of VPNs and various digital tools that can easily circumvent age verification processes, it begs the question of how effective this law will be in practice.… Continue reading
John Q. Hosedrinker