CHILD project: Improving Justice for Child Victims: European Conference in Ghent Marks Final Stage of CHILD Project
The CHILD Project – Towards a CHILD-friendly legal Order for Fair Justice Provision – is pleased to announce its Final Conference on 20 May 2026, taking place in Ghent (Belgium) and online. Through various contributions, participants will gain insights into...
Funded by the European Union, the CHILD Project aims to improve and adapt criminal justice systems to better meet the rights and needs of child victims and witnesses of violence. The project brings together partners from nine EU Member States (Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Greece, Italy, Romania, Spain, and Portugal). This week, the consortium will present the project’s results at the Final Conference in Ghent and online. The conference welcomes professionals, researchers, and stakeholders from across Europe and beyond. The attendance is free.
What to expect?
The Final Conference will provide opportunities to connect with colleagues and experts on child-friendly justice from across Europe and beyond, to rethink judicial proceedings involving children who are victims or witnesses of violence. Experts from the CHILD consortium will present the latest research, practical tools and give policy insights from the CHILD Project. Participants will also have the opportunity to ask questions, exchange experiences, and engage in discussions on current challenges and promising practices. In addition, a poster walk will showcase national strengths and weaknesses in the implementation of child-friendly justice across the participating countries.
Guide for Professionals
The major output of the CHILD Project, running since July 2024, is the Guide for Professionals on
Forensic Interviewing and Protection of Child Victims of Violence in Criminal Justice Proceedings. The guide provides practical guidance for professionals involved in criminal justice proceedings concerning child victims of violence. It presents key concepts and principles related to violence against children, trauma-informed care, developmental psychology, and child-friendly forensic interviewing. The publication also outlines protective measures and procedural approaches that support the rights, well-being, and active participation of children throughout judicial proceedings. By combining theoretical foundations with practical recommendations, the guide aims to strengthen trauma-informed and child-sensitive responses within justice systems.
Final Phase of the Project and Next Steps
The CHILD Project has reached its final phase and will end in June 2026. Several key milestones have been achieved over the last two years, such as preparing National Reports or conducting Capacity Building Sessions. National Reports disclosed the current national context of each participating country regarding children’s rights and protection within the criminal process from legal and practical perspectives. Capacity Building Sessions brought together professionals from multiple sectors, including law enforcement, prosecutors, social services, child protection, victim support, healthcare, and NGOs. These sessions created a structured space to reflect on current practices and challenges in supporting child victims within criminal justice processes.
The next steps of the project will focus on developing Policy Recommendations and Amendment Proposals for both the national and EU legal frameworks, including the Victims’ Rights Directive 2012/29/EU, with the aim of improving the implementation of the Directive, strengthening existing legislation, and promoting more child-sensitive legal and procedural frameworks. The CHILD consortium is looking forward to advancing the final stage of the project and fostering meaningful dialogue and impact across participating countries. All project results and publications will be made available on the official CHILD website.
Details of the Final Conference
20 May 2026
9:00-17:15 CET
Ghent, Belgium and online
About CHILD Project
CHILD – Towards a CHILD-friendly legal Order for Fair Justice Provision is an EU-funded initiative aimed at improving the judicial system for child victims and witnesses of violence. The project runs for 24 months and brings together professionals from various sectors to promote structural reforms, better collaboration, and advocacy for child-friendly legal frameworks across the EU.
https://childfriendlyjustice.eu/#home
