Cabo Verde to reform juvenile justice system

The Cabo Verdean government has announced plans to remove the Orlando Pantera Socio-Educational Center from the prison system's structure. Justice Minister Clóvis Silva stated the goal is to create a dedicated directorate for the socio-educational system, shifting the focus toward education and the reintegration of children and youth.

Silva emphasized that children between the ages of 12 and 16 should not be subjected to a prison environment. He argued that the current setup, which involves iron doors and a prison-like atmosphere, fails to properly educate or re-educate minors in conflict with the law. The reform aims to involve specialized professionals to create a fundamentally different environment for these young individuals.

Established in December 2005, the Orlando Pantera center is a public institution responsible for executing socio-educational measures for minors.