Resources listing

Briefing

Policy briefing for the European Union and Council of Europe: Children in digital justice: Protecting procedural rights from digital offences to remote hearings

This policy briefing sets out seven recommendations for the European Union and the Council of Europe. These include updating Directive 2016/800 to set binding standards for digitalised proceedings, prohibiting AI-led decision-making about children’s liberty and making sure child justice principles apply in full to digital offences.

Languages: English

Briefing

Climate in-justice for children: How climate crisis affects access to justice and children’s rights – Advocacy Brief

Recent studies have demonstrated that climate change poses a substantial threat to the fundamental rights of children, particularly their right to fair access to justice and child-friendly justice systems. This essential right ensures that children can effectively voice their concerns and hold relevant actors accountable for actions that have contributed to environmental degradation. Environmental degradation […]

Languages: English

Briefing

Towards LGBTI+ sensitive justice systems for children in Europe

As part of the 2021 World Congress on Justice with Children (held online in November 2021), child justice and LGBTI+ experts and practitioners examined the challenges that LGBTI+ children in Europe face in accessing justice and proposed concrete solutions and a call for action. This Challenge Paper, developed by the Child Friendly Justice European Network […]

Languages: English

Briefing

Policing of Children and Young People: A Case for “Child-Friendly Police”

Children and young people come into contact with the police for a variety of reasons such as when they commit offences, witness crimes or as victims of crimes. Children’s developing emotional and psychological maturity puts them at increased risk of exploitation during police contact and within the justice system. This paper considers the relationship between […]

Languages: English

Briefing

Brain science and how it affects children accused of crimes

Did you know that 30% of children deprived of liberty have experienced a brain injury at some point in their life? Children in criminal justice systems are more likely to suffer from neuro-disabilities. Specialists insist that if they receive the support they need early on, then they will be less likely to come into conflict […]

Languages: English

Briefing

Covid-19 and the Rights of Children of Parents who are Incarcerated: Impacts and Recommendations

This jointly published briefing addresses the unique situation of children who have a parent(s) in prison, or may be living in prison with their mother during the coronavirus pandemic. These children already face a range of specific rights considerations, many of which have been exacerbated by the global pandemic. This briefing provides both impacts and […]

Languages: English

Briefing

Children and violent extremism: international standards and responses from criminal justice systems

This briefing gives an overview of what the international and regional standards say regarding the care and treatment of children who are suspected, or convicted, of violent extremist related offences. It also looks at some examples of state responses and civil society interventions. It touches upon issues of preventing children’s involvement in violent extremism but […]

Languages: English

Briefing

Why criminal justice reform is essential to the 2030 UN Agenda for Sustainable Development (SDGs)

In September 2015, the international community agreed a new set of development goals, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, comprising 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 169 targets. The number of people behind bars, whether on remand or serving sentences, has increased in most countries over the last 20 years, placing an enormous financial burden on governments and at great cost to the social cohesion of societies. […]

Languages: English

Briefing

Positive behaviour management and children in detention

This briefing looks at the international standards regarding disciplinary measures for children in detention and their use in different settings. It also examines the current law and policy regarding disciplinary measures in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan and makes recommendations to bring these into line with international standards and good practice. This paper emerged from a three‑year […]

Languages: English