Procedural Rights of Children in the Digital Age
Both at national and European levels, fast-paced adoption of digital technologies in criminal justice proceedings aims to support effectiveness and efficiency in the delivery of justice for all. Yet, concerns have been raised about the impact of uncritical adoption of technological solutions on the safeguarding of children’s procedural rights and their access to fair trials. This is particularly the case for remote hearings.
To ensure the proper implementation of EU law on procedural rights, especially the Directive 2016/800, for all children suspected, accused or sentenced with a crime in increasingly digitalising criminal justice systems, there is a strong need for a closer look into these judicial practices and developing concrete measures based on an in-depth understanding of the experiences of children and other stakeholders. These should be complemented by novel and child-friendly solutions, mutual learning, and the exchange of good practices on procedural safeguards of children.
Taking on this challenge, Penal Reform International and Terres des Hommes Hungary, Terres des Hommes Romania and Terres des Hombres Spain are implementing EU-funded Protecting the Procedural Rights of Children in the Digital Age– PPRO-Child. Funded under the EU JUST Programme, the project aims to strengthen procedural safeguards for children in the context of digital justice across the EU and Ukraine, with a specific focus on remote hearings.
Taking four varied contexts – in Ireland, Romania, Spain and Ukraine as a starting point, the project brings to light the rights and needs of children in conflict with the law during the digitalisation of justice. Through direct communication with local justice actors and children with lived experience of justice proceedings, it aims to develop practical solutions tailored to the problems identified in each country, along with tools and guiding documents for the better protection of children’s procedural rights at a broader level. Cross-border knowledge-sharing through events, such as the World Congress on Justice with Children and advocacy at the EU level, takes lessons and project learnings beyond the four focus countries, supporting the strengthening of children’s fair trial rights across the region.
Project resources
Country-specific factsheets:
