Child prisoners in Asia face abuse, UNICEF says.

GENEVA -- Incarcerated children in Asia face inhumane treatment, are often denied basic rights such as health care and education and are highly vulnerable to drug abuse, sexual exploitation and HIV/AIDS, UNICEF said yesterday in a report that urges governments in the region to find alternatives to putting young offenders behind bars.

Many child prisoners have been convicted of petty crimes or are awaiting trial, sometimes for long periods of time, while others are guilty only of being homeless, or are victims of child trafficking and other forms of abuse, according to the report, Justice for Children, Detention as a Last Resort.

According to the report, more than 1 million children worldwide are in detention, often sharing cells with adult prisoners, a contravention of international law.