The Northern Territory (NT) in Australia has sparked controversy by lowering the age of criminal responsibility back to 10 years old, reversing a previous move to raise it to 12. This decision has drawn fierce criticism from human rights groups, medical professionals, Indigenous communities, and international experts who argue it will disproportionately impact Aboriginal children and exacerbate existing problems. The NT government insists the change is necessary to address rising youth crime rates, but critics warn of a potentially harmful and ineffective approach that could further entrench vulnerable children in the justice system.
