The UNODC has completed a first draft of a ‘Model Law on Juvenile Justice’. The purpose of a ‘model law’ is to provides States that wish to reform their laws with an example of a law that adheres to international principles and minimum standards and which incorporates ideas arising from best practice. The document is not binding in any way, and states parties do not have to agree or accede to it. Nevertheless, in order for it to be useful it must be widely applicable and have a good chance of being operable in any part of the world. For this reason, the UNODC recently hosted an expert meeting in Vienna with 20 experts from different countries and differing legal systems, in order to debate and discuss the draft law.

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