Mon 8 Dec 2025 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM GMT
Summary:
Preliminary studies show that the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly affected children, particularly their social and emotional development. Prolonged school closures and social distancing limited peer interaction, reducing opportunities to learn positive social behaviours. The Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) stresses that protections must account for children’s evolving capacities — the process by which they acquire competencies, understanding, and agency. In 2019, the CRC recommended a minimum age of criminal responsibility (MACR) of at least 14. This webinar gives an overview of a peer reviewed article published by the presenters. The paper argues that the pandemic’s impact on development requires the CRC to revisit this guidance and consider a ‘developmental immaturity defence’ to better protect children who are now more vulnerable. The analysis will focus on the United Kingdom.
This work is aimed at anyone interested in children’s development, particularly within the context of youth justice. It will be of value to those concerned with the minimum age of criminal responsibility, as well as policymakers, practitioners, and researchers seeking to understand how law, developmental science, and children’s rights intersect in practice.
Bios:
Dr Tracy Kirk is a socio-legal researcher and lecturer at the University of Stirling specialising in children’s rights, with particular expertise in youth justice, evolving capacities, and the incorporation of the UNCRC into Scots law. Her research explores how developmental neurology and children’s lived realities challenge fixed legal thresholds, particularly in relation to the minimum age of criminal responsibility and participation rights. Tracy’s published work highlights the persistent gap between rights rhetoric and practice in Scotland, examining how laws often fail to deliver meaningful protection or agency for children. Beyond academia, she serves on Scottish Government advisory groups on children’s rights and justice, contributing evidence and analysis to shape policy and legislative reform.
Dr Aaron Brown is currently an independent criminal justice researcher. Previously he worked for the Children and Young People’s Centre for Justice (University of Strathclyde) and UNICEF UK. He has authored/ co-authored reports for Government, NGOs, as well as Health and Social Care Partnership. He continues to peer-review publish in the areas of youth justice and children’s rights.
Dr Hannah Wishart is a Senior Lecturer in Law at the University of Sunderland. She is co-author of the following books: Neurolaw in the Courtroom: Comparative Perspectives on Vulnerable Defendants and International Perspectives of Neuroscience in the Youth Justice Courtroom. Hannah has published peer-reviewed journal articles on the relevance of neuroscience in youth justice, the abolition of the doctrine of doli incapax, and the unfair treatment of developmentally immature children in the English criminal justice system. Hannah’s research interests include youth justice, neurolaw, legal defences, and adolescent brain development.
Important Info:
This webinar will be recorded and shared on the CYCJ website. Cameras and mics will be switched off to all attendees, only the speakers and organisers of the event will have their cameras on. If you have any questions throughout the webinar you will be able to add them into the chat and the speakers will try to answer as many as possible at the end.
All registered attendees will be contacted with team's link 24 hours before each session. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact cycj@strath.ac.uk.
To keep up to date on all CYCJ events you can sign up for our monthly e-bulletin here - http://eepurl.com/dvyBuv
