World Congress on Justice WITH Children

Young person speaks at the World Congress on Justice with Children in Paris

Since 2009, Terre des hommes (Tdh) has been co-organising the World Congress on Justice for Children. These events are a unique chance to bring together the key actors in juvenile justice and child rights at an international level, to promote dialogue and cooperation on the central and current topics of child protection. 

Facts and figures

2024 or 2025

Next World Congress on Justice WITH Children

2021-2024

Preparatory meetings for the next World Congress

2021, 2018, 2015, 2009

World Congresses on Justice for Children in Mexico, Paris, Lima and Geneva

Organised through the Global Initiative on Justice With Children, the last world congress took place from 15 to 19 November 2021 and put child participation at the centre: it was about justice WITH children. With more than 4500 participants from 150 countries, this milestone event was hosted by the Mexican Supreme Court and co-organised with UNICEF, UNSRSG VAC, UNODC, OHCHR and the OECD. More information on www.justicewithchildren.org.

Child and youth advisory board

The child and youth advisory board is a group of young and ambitious people under 25 years old, with knowledge and experience in child justice systems. The 2021 congress involved engagement with children and youth to help shape the congress and act as a voice for justice with children. They advocated for non-discrimination and promoted 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!

Discover the World Congress webpage for under 25s set up by children and young people. 
 

A participant at the World Congress on Access to Justice takes part in a writing exercise.
A participant at the World Congress on Access to Justice takes part in a writing exercise

Global Initiative on Justice with Children 

In 2019, on the 30th anniversary of the Child Rights Convention, Tdh has launched the Global Initiative on Justice with Children, in consortium with Penal Reform International (PRI) and the International Association of Youth and Family Judges and Magistrates. The initiative brings together actors active in the field of justice, as well as children themselves, to address current issues concerning children in contact with the justice system and in conflict with the law. The objectives of this Global Initiative are to:

  1. make children’s rights effective worldwide,
  2. promote access to justice and participation of children in formal and informal justice systems,
  3. improve the link between child justice and child protection systems,
  4. assess the use of deprivation of liberty and promoting non-custodial measures worldwide,
  5. encourage the exchange of good practices to reduce and prevent juvenile crime and
  6. propose effective responses to recidivism. 

The Initiative has created an interactive platform for professionals working with children and young people in contact with the justice system, academics, development practitioners and children and young people. It allows to foster the exchange of experiences, to stimulate the production of knowledge and to promote the dissemination of good practices.

The Global Initiative's 2022-2025 priorities were defined as an outcome of the 2021 World Congress on Justice with Children. They include digital justice, Justice in times of crises, Community empowerment, Neurosciences and child justice and ending child detention.  

Visit the platform of the global Justice with Children initiative: www.justicewithchildren.org 
 

Co-organisers of 2021 World Congress on Justice With Children

Penal Reform International

Penal Reform International

Penal Reform International is an independent non-governmental organisation that develops and promotes fair, effective and proportionate responses to criminal justice issues worldwide.

Go to Penal Reform International website
AiMjF

AiMjF

The International Association of Youth and Family Judges and Magistrates is a worldwide organisation, dating back to before the First World War and officially established in Belgium in 1928. It is dedicated to the study and exchange of information on issues concerning children and young people in need of care and protection and/or in conflict with the law, and their families.

Go to the AiMjF website
UNSRSGVAC

UNSRSGVAC

The Special Representative acts as an independent global advocate to promote the prevention and elimination of all forms of violence against children. She provides mediation and facilitation functions in all regions and in all settings and areas where children are likely to be victims of violence.

Go to the UNSRSGVAC website
Institut international des droits de l'enfants (IDE)

Institut international des droits de l'enfants (IDE)

Founded in 1995, the International Institute for the Rights of the Child (IDE) is a recognized training centre for children's rights, a Swiss foundation under private law and a scientific centre solicited by numerous networks of experts and institutions working for the respect of children's rights.

To the IDE website
Terre des hommes

Terre des hommes

Switzerland's largest child relief organisation, committed to improving the lives of millions of disadvantaged children around the world.

Go to the Tdh website
UNICEF

UNICEF

UNICEF - United Nations Children's Fund: UNICEF works in more than 190 countries and territories to save children's lives, protect their rights and help them reach their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

Aller au site UNICEF
Penal Reform International

Penal Reform International

Penal Reform International is an independent non-governmental organisation that develops and promotes fair, effective and proportionate responses to criminal justice issues worldwide.

Go to Penal Reform International website
AiMjF

AiMjF

The International Association of Youth and Family Judges and Magistrates is a worldwide organisation, dating back to before the First World War and officially established in Belgium in 1928. It is dedicated to the study and exchange of information on issues concerning children and young people in need of care and protection and/or in conflict with the law, and their families.

Go to the AiMjF website
UNSRSGVAC

UNSRSGVAC

The Special Representative acts as an independent global advocate to promote the prevention and elimination of all forms of violence against children. She provides mediation and facilitation functions in all regions and in all settings and areas where children are likely to be victims of violence.

Go to the UNSRSGVAC website
Institut international des droits de l'enfants (IDE)

Institut international des droits de l'enfants (IDE)

Founded in 1995, the International Institute for the Rights of the Child (IDE) is a recognized training centre for children's rights, a Swiss foundation under private law and a scientific centre solicited by numerous networks of experts and institutions working for the respect of children's rights.

To the IDE website
Terre des hommes

Terre des hommes

Switzerland's largest child relief organisation, committed to improving the lives of millions of disadvantaged children around the world.

Go to the Tdh website
UNICEF

UNICEF

UNICEF - United Nations Children's Fund: UNICEF works in more than 190 countries and territories to save children's lives, protect their rights and help them reach their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

Aller au site UNICEF

What is restorative justice?

Cecilia Popa has been working in criminal justice systems for over 12 years. She is convinced that restorative justice can be key for many children and teens. But what does “restorative” mean? And where can we find this type of justice? In this episode, she is interviewed by Angela, a 22-year-old child and youth advisor.

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