The figures are due to the overall low crime levels in the country and the fact that some crimes committed by children are unaccounted for, Rehak told a roundtable dedicated to the juvenile delinquency issues.

According to AssA-Irada, he said that reform should be started in the Azeri juvenile justice system as soon as possible, as the maximum prison sentence envisioned by the law for underage offenders is too lengthy. Rehak said that although the exiting legislation envisions progressive restraining measures other than prison terms, judges almost never use these options. The Fund representative explained this by the long-standing traditions and the absence of a specific mechanism of people’s involvement in social activities.

The head of the NGO Alliance for Children's Rights, Nabil Seyidov, said 618 juvenile crimes were registered in Azerbaijan in 2005, of which 237 (38.3%) were robberies. Another widespread juvenile crime is beatings, as 83 (13.4%) such offenses were committed last year. Seyidov said only seven cases of manslaughter were registered. The tally also included hooliganism, hold-ups and infliction of light injuries to other persons.

A member of the Commission on Pardon under the President, MP Elmira Akhundova said a total of 55 underage persons are currently kept at reformatory institutions.

"The number of such prisoners keeps decreasing every year. For instance, the figure was 200 in 1992," she added.

/AzerNEWS/