The Crime of Child Kidnapping through the Use of Force under Law 20-15

Abstract

The child constitutes one of the most important segments of society; therefore, both international and national legislations strive to protect children from all forms of physical or psychological violence, particularly the crime of violent child kidnapping, which has significantly escalated and intensified. This development prompted the Algerian legislator to enact Law No. 20-15 concerning the prevention and suppression of crimes involving the kidnapping of persons, with the aim of ensuring the necessary legal protection for children. Accordingly, this study seeks to clarify the constituent elements of the crime of child kidnapping through the use of force, as well as the penalty prescribed for this offense, in order to assess the effectiveness of the criminal policy adopted by the Algerian legislator in protecting this vulnerable group.