Juvenile Delinquents Law (Law No. 18 of 1974)

The Juvenile Delinquents Law sets out the special procedures and protections governing the investigation, prosecution, and sentencing of juveniles or minors for criminal offences.[1]

According to the Juvenile Delinquents Law, Syrian law does not see a child offender as a “real” criminal and designates different measures of handling offenders under the legal adult age. A child offender under the age of 7 does not bear any criminal responsibility and cannot be tried for any offence. However, the law creates two separate legal categories for children between the age of 7 to 18 years. Offenders in this age group are subject to similar penalties, except when the felony is committed by someone aged 15 to 18 years, when a much harsher sentence can be imposed.

While there is a substantial legal framework regulating the treatment of young offenders, the reality is often different. For example, juvenile offenders are often held together with adults, exposing them to mental and physical abuse. There are also widespread reports of arrest, detention, and torture of children by the Syrian government.[2]

[1] For more information about the issues relevant to this law, see “Guide to Child’s Rights in Syria,” Norwegian Refugee Council and Syria Trust for Development, July 2023, https://www.nrc.no/globalassets/pdf/guidelines/legal-protection-of-children/syria-child-rights-guide_english.pdf

[2] See, for example, “Syria: Stop Torture of Children,” Human Rights Watch, February 3, 2012, https://www.hrw.org/news/2012/02/03/syria-stop-torture-children.