ABOUT THE INITIATIVE

What is it all about?

The Global Initiative on Justice With Children is a joint programme developed by a group of international organisations to address the most current issues related to children in contact and conflict with the law.

The initiative has a double-pronged approach:

  • a Justice With Children Global Milestone through World Congresses on Justice With Children as well as regional and national preparatory meetings.
  • a Global Community of Practitioners through The Justice With Children online platform.

The Global Initiative on Justice With Children aims to facilitate interaction between professionals through an online and onsite space for reflection, exchange and constant learning in the field of child justice.

This initiative focuses on crime prevention, alternatives to deprivation of liberty with special consideration to restorative justice, improvement of conditions of detention, both for children and young adults.  The study of the different legal systems as well as the current trends related to child justice are at the core of the Global Initiative.

OUR HISTORY

Who are we?

The Global Initiative on Justice With Children was launched in 2019, at the Palais des Nations, in Geneva, in the context of the 30th anniversary of the Convention of the Right of the child.

It is the fruit of the collaboration of a group of international NGOs which partnered for the organisation of the 2018 World Congress on Justice for Children: “Strengthening Justice Systems for Children: Challenges, including disengagement from violent extremism”, held at the UNESCO House in Paris.

Across 3 days, over 1000 people from 100 countries participated in 28 workshops and more than 10 plenary sessions. Children and young people, who participated in the 2018 World Congress called our collective responsibility to move forward by building justice for children with children. Where children themselves are empowered supported to play key roles in creating change.

Child and youth participation can no longer be an empty concept or theory. It needs to become an everyday practice. It is clear for us that, as we approach the 30th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, now is the time to move from theory to practice. If we want to change children’s bad experiences tomorrow, we need to act today. The title of this year’s World Congress is “Justice FOR Children”. Maybe next year’s Congress will be entitled: “Justice WITH Children”

OUR VISION

Why launch a Global Initiative on Justice with Children?

With this initiative, we aim to:

  • make children’s rights effective worldwide.
  • promote access to justice and participation of children in formal, and informal justice systems.
  • improve the connection between justice for children and child protection systems.
  • promote non-custodial measures worldwide and reduce the use of deprivation of liberty.
  • exchange practice-oriented strategies to reduce and prevent juvenile crime and propose effective responses to recidivism.

OUR ACTIONS

Why organise World Congresses on Justice With Children?

With this initiative, we aim to:

  • make children’s rights effective worldwide.
  • promote access to justice and participation of children in formal, and informal justice systems.
  • improve the connection between justice for children and child protection systems.
  • promote non-custodial measures worldwide and reduce the use of deprivation of liberty.
  • exchange practice-oriented strategies to reduce and prevent juvenile crime and propose effective responses to recidivism.

Why launch a Global Platform on Justice With Children?

The Global platform aims to:

  • create continuity between each World Congress thanks to an on-line follow up of actions defined during regional and global events,
  • develop online working groups, training, campaigns, community of practice etc.,
  • support international and regional advocacy activities.