Youth

A distinction is made between youth assistance and protection on the one hand, and youth policy on the other.

Youth assistance and protection

Youth assistance = non-judicial interventions

The French Community for the French linguistic region, and the German-speaking Community for the German linguistic region, set the basic legislation and finance intervention to help minors in difficulty and their families.

Youth protection

The Federal Authority sets the basic legislation: status of minors, rules of criminal law for youth-protection offences, juvenile courts, loss of parental rights and supervision of social benefits. The Federal Authority also has legislative competence for measures relating to minors who have committed offences.

The French Community for the French linguistic region, and the German-speaking Community for the German linguistic region, are responsible for implementing legal measures to assist young people and with respect to minors who have committed offences. The Communities legislate on institutions that train and supervise young people, and organise or subsidise these institutions

Legal basis:
Constitution, art. 128 and 130
LSRI of 08/08/1980, art. 5, §1, II, 6°
 LRI of 31/12/1983, art. 4, §2

Youth policy

The French Community for the French linguistic region, and the German-speaking Community for the German linguistic region, are responsible for youth policy: youth clubs, youth organisations, youth hostels, etc.

 

Legal basis:
Constitution, art. 127 and 130
LSRI of 08/08/1980, art. 4, 7°
 LRI of 31/12/1983, art. 4, §1