The front page of the Sunday New York Times had been sitting on my kitchen table for a few days as I built up the emotional fortitude to read the article about the juvenile justice system in Africa. As someone who's reported on jails, prisons and the system in this country, I've heard my share of horror stories. It's an outrage how we treat our most vulnerable, and demonized, section of the population.
As I expected, the situation in Africa is, if possible, even more shocking. Given the poverty, political corruption and social chaos of those countries, how could it be otherwise? In the jails, no electricity, no food, no separation of children from abusive adult prisoners. Kids are imprisioned for years without due process, without even getting to see a lawyer. "Defilement" -- sex with an underage girl -- is a frequent charge. The penalty, in theory, is death, unless the young man can come up with about $40 to pay off the girl's family.
The article portrays a situation that is infuriating, terrifying and very, very sad. Least we in this country feel self-satisfied, the reporter rightly points out that even with the abuses, "African nations sometimes hew closer to United Nations standards than do parts of the United States."
Shame on all of us.
You can read the article at www.nytimes.com/2006/12/24/world/africa/24africa.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
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