Latin American legal reforms target juvenile justice and child protection

Various regional developments regarding the legal protection and judicial treatment of minors are emerging across Latin America.

In Argentina, a new Juvenile Criminal Regime (Law 27.801) takes effect on September 5, reducing the age of criminal responsibility from 16 to 14. The law prohibits life imprisonment for minors and prioritizes socio-educational measures and specialized detention centers over adult prisons. Meanwhile, in La Pampa, legislators are demanding the enforcement of a child gambling prevention law after reports indicated that 23% of students participated in online betting.

In Mexico, the Congress of Puebla is promoting the ‘Abner Law’ through forums aimed at creating a justice system with a specific perspective on childhood to better protect the rights of minors.