Toolkit on Diversion and Alternatives to Detention

The UNICEF Toolkit on Diversion and Alternatives to Detention (2009) presents a summary of why diversion and alternatives are important, including top 10 reasons to promote diversion and alternatives for children. The overall goal of the toolkit is to support UNICEF and their partners in implementing key provisions of the CRC relating to children suspected and/or accused, specifically: reducing children's contact with judicial proceedings (through diversion - CRC Art. 40.3(b)) and ensuring that deprivation of liberty of children suspected and/or accused is actually used as a last resort, decreasing the number of children deprived of liberty (through alternatives to detention - CRC Art. 37(b) & 40.4). The toolkit aims to do this by providing clear, user-friendly guidance and practical tools to support UNICEF and their partners to advocate and implement positive change for children suspected and/or accused through a child rights-based and systemic approach which engages the 8 elements of UNICEF's Protective Environment Framework.