Conditions for criminal responsibility of juveniles in the legal systems of Iraq, Egypt and Sudan

Abstract

. This research aims to analyze the conditions of criminal responsibility for juveniles in Iraqi, Egyptian, and Sudanese laws. It does so by outlining the legal foundations governing juvenile accountability, determining the extent to which these laws align with international standards for child protection and rehabilitation, and developing a comparative framework to inform legislative policy in the field of juvenile justice. The research is significant because it addresses a sensitive topic related to the psychological and intellectual development of children, necessitating enhanced legal protection that considers the juvenile's limited understanding and encourages rehabilitation rather than punishment. Furthermore, the comparative study reveals fundamental differences between the three legal systems, assisting policymakers in identifying best practices. The research employs a comparative and descriptive-analytical methodology, examining legal texts related to the age of criminal responsibility, criteria for discernment, and measures prescribed for juveniles in each country, and comparing them with international conventions and modern trends in juvenile justice. The results showed a clear disparity among the three systems in defining the age of criminal responsibility, assessing a juvenile's capacity for accountability, and the types of measures and procedures applied. Egypt tends toward a more comprehensive reformist approach, while Iraq retains some punitive features, and Sudan falls somewhere in between, gradually adopting modern approaches. This underscores the need to develop juvenile legislation in all three countries to enhance child protection and ensure a balance between the requirements of social security and the juvenile's right to rehabilitation and reintegration.