Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698927582129.pdf (Trinidad and Tobago)
OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER Actions Aligned to Pertinent Recommendations Contained in the Third Report of the Joint Select Committee on Human Rights, Equality and Diversity on the Treatment of Child Offender at the Youth Training Centre, St Michaels Rehabilitation Centre for Young Male Offenders and St Jude's Interim Rehabilitation Centre for Young Female Offenders.
Acronyms CATT SASC SMIRCYMO SJIRCYFO UNCRC YTC Children's Authority of Trinidad and Tobago Statutory Authorities and Service Commission St. Michaels Interim Rehabilitation Centre for Young Males Offenders St Jude's Interim Rehabilitation Centre for Young Female Offenders United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child Youth Training Centre Recommendation of Report process 4.13.
The Committee recommends that priority needs to be placed on the creation of a long term solution for placement and rehabilitation of female child offenders.

4.14.

 The Committee recommends the amendment of the Statutory Authorities Act, Chpt.

24:01 in order to remove the recruitment SASC's responsibility for the disciplinary and of SMIRCYMO/SJIRCYFO staff.
4.16 The Committee recommends that the OPM treat with the five (5) outstanding recommended works and conducts an assessment of works yet to be completed.

The issues observed by the Committee are provided in item 4.7.

4.17.

The Committee recommends that the OPM develop and implement a plan to ensure that the requisite approvals are received from the Trinidad and Tobago Fire Services or the Public Health Division, Ministry of Health over the next six (6) months.
OPM Comment/Action Approval was granted in March 2017 to the Ministry of National Security to construct a Rehabilitation Centre for girls on vacant lands at Golden Grove.

This recommendation is currently engaging the attention of the Office of the Attorney General.

The Office of the Prime Minister is pursuing the recommendation to support the refurbishment of the facilities within its current allocation.

It must be noted that there are outstanding payments for works already completed.
The items at 4.7 of the report will be considered.

The Board of Management and the Manager have been instructed to pursue the acquisition of the relevant approvals from the Trinidad and Tobago Fire Services and the Public Health Division over the next six months.

Recommendation of Report 4.18.

The Committee recommends that the recruitment of specialized staff at SMIRCYMO be addressed by the SASC and OPM as a matter of urgency within three to six months.
Consideration should be given to requesting the use of state scholarship recipients within the identified specialized field as a short term solution.

4.19.

The Committee recommends that there be greater collaboration and coordination between the SASC, the OPM and the CATT to address the human resource issues at SMIRCYMO.

4.20.

The Committee recommends that more male staff are hired at SMIRCYMO in order to provide a positive male influence on the behavior of the boys.

4.21.
4.21.

The Committee recommends that the maintenance and upkeep of the facility be done by the staff and the young men at the institution.

This will provide child offenders with more responsibility and to gain a sense of accomplishment.

4.22.

The Office of the Prime Minister should review the CATT recommendations in Appendix IX.

4.48.
4.48.

The Committee strongly recommends that the strategic plans for the SMIRCYMO and the YTC be drafted and approved by the respective ministries within six months.
The strategic plan would assist the rehabilitation facilities in providing a functional organizational chart and methods to rectify the issues of staff shortages 4.49 The Committee recommends that the OPM and the CATT work steadfastly to implement the Children's Registry in order to track the progression of the children in conflict with the law after they exit the rehabilitation centres.
The Committee requests a status update on the progress of the Children's registry by April 30, 2017 which is expected to be completed by May 31, 2017 4.50 The Committee recommends that the SASC and the CATT provide mandatory OPM Comment/Action A review of the staffing needs will be undertaken and an appropriate submission will be made to the Cabinet.

The OPM has and will continue to foster collaboration among key stakeholder agencies.
The OPM has encouraged the placement of male caregivers only at the institution.

The Board of Management and the Manager has been directed to address this recommendation.

The recommendations of the CATT are being considered within the allocation of the OPM for the Community Residences to consider.

Currently in progress.

The OPM is prepared to advance this project.

The overdue submission of the storage details from the Attorney General's Office & Legal Affairs, has drastically delayed the project.
Once the documents have been submitted we will be able to recruit a consultant to start and complete the build phase.

Additionally the appointment of the Data Commissioner is important for the final approval and implementation of the project.

Presently the OPM GCA is hosting capacity building: Train the Trainer workshops with the community residences.

This is being 2 Recommendation of Report for staff.
The capacity building training should include a workshop on the UNCRC and training in basic social work and rehabilitative methods.

4.51.

The Committee recommends that the OPM, the CATT and the facility management develop rehabilitative programs in conjunction with other ministries and NGOs in order to foster and develop the wide breadth of skills and talent of the young men at the facility.

4.52.
4.52.

Given the lack of cultural programs available at SMIRCYMO, the Committee recommends that the Centre collaborates with the Ministry of Community development, Culture and the Arts to establish programs that would help with the cultural development of the boys.

4.53.
4.53.

The Committee recommends that the OPM seek the assistance of the Ministry of the Attorney General and Legal Affairs to draft legislation to prevent parents from abandoning their children at the rehabilitation centres and YTC.

 Parental involvement plays a critical the successful rehabilitation of a child offender.

4.55.
4.55.

The Committee recommends that remedial teaching methods adopted by St Jude's and YTC need to be tailored to improve and encourage the transition into other mainstream education/vocational institutions upon exit of the institution.

4.60.

The Committee recommends that the model used to develop the rehabilitative programs at SJIRCYFO and YTC be adopted at SMIRCYMO, role in OPM Comment/Action done with 47 community residences and YTC.
The areas for training were developed based on research questionnaires administered to the 47 community residences, meetings with the managers, international guidelines and recommendations from the Children's Authority.

The training consists of 18 topics including the UNCRC, basic social work and rehabilitative methods.

The representatives at the workshops are mandated to return to their residences and deliver training to the relevant staff within the institution.
The OPM has begun the process of developing such rehabilitative programs.

For example OPM GCA has developed an MOU with the (Ministry of Community Community Mediation Programme Development, Culture and the Arts) to provide life skills development and social support for parents, staff and families within the St. Michael's School for Boys.

A similar programme has also begun in the St. Jude's School for Girls based on their unique needs.
Additionally an MOU was signed with the University of Trinidad & Tobago (UTT) to provide educational, cultural and literacy support to the St. Michael's School for Boys.

Other stakeholders such as the TIPS, the Defense Force, Lifeline and Servol to name a few have also been enlisted to support this effort.

The OPM GCA has signed an MOU with the UTT to implement cultural programmes, these include all forms of music.
The OPM GCA has also signed an MOU with the Ministry of Community Development, Culture and the Arts for social skills support and will pursue this matter.

Noted.

This will be pursued by the OPM: Child Affairs Division and Legal Services.

The OPM will liaise with the Ministry of Social Development and Family Services to advance the Parenting Policy, Parenting and Grand Parenting Training Programme.

Noted.

Currently under review.

Noted.

Currently under review.


3 Recommendation of Report OPM Comment/Action 4.61.

The Committee also recommends that Noted.

This matter is being address by the Family and Children the legislation be amended to allow the YTC Division Act, which has to be proclaimed.

This Act provides for all child offenders to be managed by the Ministry of National Security.

to provide for the accommodation of male child offenders under the age of 16 years on criminal and capital offences.
This would the address streamlining of human resources.

funding and issue of the OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER 4