Prof. Julia Sloth-Nielsen honoured with the IJJO, 'Juvenile Justice Without Borders' International Award
Posted: 30 Dec 2024
Many congratulations to Fellow, Prof. Julia Sloth-Nielsen from South Africa, who has been honoured with the International Juvenile Justice Observatory (IJJO), 'Juvenile Justice Without Borders' International Award. This award, now in its 8th Edition, is given biannually to prominent professionals and organisations in the juvenile justice and children’s rights fields.
Prof. Julia Sloth-Nielsen, Emeritus Professor at the University of the Western Cape Faculty of Law, received the award for her “distinguished professional trajectory as a researcher and academic, which has contributed significantly to the understanding and improvement of the legal and policy frameworks that affect children at both a national and an international level, including in the field of juvenile justice. The IJJO highlights her work on the development of international standards in children’s rights, as well as on the drafting of children’s laws in a wide range of countries, including Kenya, Mozambique, Zanzibar, South Sudan, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka, and South Africa.”
In the words of the IJJO Chairman, Francisco Legaz Cervantes, "the individuals and entities awarded in this edition embody the fundamental values that the International Juvenile Justice Observatory seeks to promote through this recognition. Their work reflects an unwavering commitment to defending the rights of children and young people, creating opportunities for their holistic development and for the improvement of juvenile justice systems. Through their efforts in research, advocacy, education and awareness-raising, they have been able to bring about significant changes in legislation, practices and social attitudes."
IAFL President, Rachael Kelsey, reflected, “We are delighted to join the countless others around the world in congratulating Julia on this well-deserved recognition of the exceptional work to which she has dedicated her professional life. Julia has lived her principles throughout her career, and made an immeasurable difference to the promotion and protection of children’s rights, especially in Africa. She has mentored, taught and enthused a whole generation of students, policy-makers, academics and other lawyers, who have gone on to effect change in many jurisdictions. We hope that she (uncharacteristically) slows down for a few moments to enjoy the recognition, and appreciate the very high esteem in which she is held!”
You can see the University of the Western Cape announcement here and watch Prof. Sloth-Nielsen’s acceptance speech here
