World Congress on Justice With Children
Child and Youth Advisory Group
Creating a better place for children in justice
Child & Youth Advisory Group – Information Sheet
The 2021 World Congress Child and Youth Advisory Group, is a group of young and ambitious people under 25 years old, with knowledge and experience in child justice systems. The 2021 Congress involves engagement with children and youth to help shape the Congress and act as a voice for Justice With Children. They advocate for non-discrimination and promote impartial and child friendly justice systems by drawing from and sharing their own experiences with the justice system, in order to allow other children and youth to enjoy their right to have equal access to justice. Children and the Youth’s voices count!
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Why are we setting up child and youth advisory groups?
The aim of the Congress is to gather children and adults that are specialized in different areas of justice – including policymakers, civil society representatives and child and youth advocates – to address the challenges faced by children in contact with justice systems.
The Right to be Heard:
Children and youth have a right to be heard and express their views freely. This means that adults have an obligation to make space for children to share their views and take them into consideration in decisions that affect them. Children in contact with justice systems are more likely to not have their views heard or responded to.
Our Targets:
- Promote child-friendly justice systems;
- Stimulate policy makers, law makers, civil society representatives and child and youth advocates to advance children’s rights;
- Engage and connect various actors and specialists in the field of child justice.
We are keen to work with young people who are passionate about defending human rights and who want to work with others in order to advocate for changes in justice systems.
Willing to join?
How to register:
Register here and look out on our Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram pages for the next steps.
Keeping children and young people safe
It’s important to note that some sessions will cover sensitive topics, such as children who experience violence or children who are in prison. Some children and young people may find this disturbing. So we recommend that you inform a trusted adult about your interest to attend the Congress, any who can support you if you have any questions or if you are disturbed by anything that is shared during the sessions. It’s crucial that children who participate in the event are safe. The Terre des hommes Child Safeguarding Policy is the basis for keeping children safe during the World Congress. If you have any urgent questions about your safety while attending a session at the World Congress, you can email: concern@tdh.ch. Thank you.
Meet the 2021 Child & Youth Advisory Group Members
Alexandra
CYAG Member“I am from Bucharest, Romania and I chose to be part of the World Congress on Justice With Children 2021 because I love to help and I considered that my experience in children's justice could help in shaping the Congress.”
Angela
CYAG Member"I love when I am able to work with children, teens and young adults while combining my love for helping and my job as a graphic designer to create with them visuals that can tell the world "Hi, we are here and we have something to say".
Eni
CYAG Member"We should channel all our energies for more concrete actions and less abstract work because CHILDREN'S VOICES COUNT"
Helan
CYAG Member“The reason I'm one of the members of the advisory group is that I believe that every child has a voice and has a right to be heard. I want to create a better place for children in justice and I believe I can help shaping the congress.”
Iliana
CYAG Member“My passion is to create a healing and restorative system that works for young people and families, especially marginalised communities.”
Macholi
CYAG Member"I'm from Uganda and I am passionate about making the world a better place by acting as a global voice for children in justice and climate change."
Tajdar
CYAG Member"I am a child member of the national commission on the rights of the child NCRC PAKISTAN.”
Whitney
CYAG Member“My aim is to serve those communities that I grew up in to make a difference in young people's lives. I want to show others that no matter the challenges you come up against there’s always change to be made.”