'Child prisoners face abuse in Asian jails'

The bleak outlook was laid out in a report by the UN fund titled "Justice for children, Detention as a last resort", which called on Asian Governments to find alternatives to prison for young offenders.

"Children behind bars face inhuman conditions and treatment. They are denied basic rights, such as decent healthcare and education, and are highly vulnerable to drug abuse, sexual exploitation and HIV/AIDS," it said.

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Unicef's regional director Mehr Khan said a greater focus was also needed on the causes of youth crime in the region.

"The vast majority of children in conflict with the law have suffered a history of abuse, including violence at home and at school, sexual exploitation, drug addiction and poverty," Khan said.

"These children need support services such as drug rehabilitation and family counselling rather than punishment in a criminal justice system which is designed for adults, so naturally we are very concerned," she said.

The report recommended the establishment of child-friendly legal frameworks and special efforts to protect girls, who it said faced a high risk of abuse from the moment they are detained by police through to imprisonment.