Realising Child-Friendly Justice in Europe

forthcoming

In Europe, children face many challenges in accessing justice. While significant progress was made, justice systems remain insufficiently adapted to children and unable to consider children’s rights, needs, level of maturity, and understanding. The CFJ-EN works to ensure that children in Europe can access age appropriate, inclusive, and diligent services, and that practitioners are equipped to implement child-friendly justice. The overall CFJ-EN’s goal is to support the concrete and effective integration of child- friendly justice principles in European justice systems and EU policies, legislations and strategies promoting the rights of child victim’s, children suspect and/or accused, children in migration and children in civil proceedings. In 2026, the CFJ-EN will focus on 4 strategic priorities: 1. Strengthening children's agency so that they can claim their rights and help improve justice systems; 2. Promoting Quality of Practice among CFJ-EN Members and practitioners working with children in Europe; 3. Influencing European Policies Through Strengthened Partnerships; 4. Consolidate our foundations as a European network so that children in contact with justice systems see their rights promoted, respected and fulfilled. To attain these objectives, the CFJ-EN will produce opportunities for intergenerational dialogue, a FSTP scheme to support child participation, develop CFJ Indicators, a Case studies collection on CFJ, organise an annual seminar, a European webinar, a CFJ Summer School, a Child Justice Caravan, lead joint advocacy actions to influence European policies on flagship thematic priorities, and develop a Gender & Diversity Policy. With 34 Members in 18 European countries, the CFJ-EN targets through its activities children in contact with the justice system, in particular children and young people with lived experience, regional and national-level policy makers and legal and non-legal practitioners, and European Networks defending children’s rights.