Experts Discuss Child-Centred Justice Systems
New projects aim to enhance legal accessibility and participation for children across the European Union.
Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Special Needs
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Should national justice systems prioritize specialized support to accommodate children with disabilities in legal proceedings?
Experts recently met to coordinate the development of child-centred justice systems designed to improve communication and legal participation. Three specific initiatives are currently underway to address these goals within the European Union.
Why it matters
These projects exist to ensure children, including those with disabilities, can actively participate in legal proceedings. By integrating specialized support, these initiatives aim to remove barriers to justice for younger individuals.
The ENSURE and VOICE projects are scheduled for two-year lifecycles, while the BRIDGE project is funded by Erasmus+ for a one-year duration. These initiatives focus on integrating intermediaries and support persons into the legal framework.
The players
ENSURE
This is a two-year project focused on supporting children with disabilities within the criminal justice system.
VOICE
This two-year initiative aims to ensure children can actively participate in legal proceedings.
BRIDGE
This project examines small-scale, community-integrated detention houses with funding from Erasmus+.
The details
The ENSURE project specifically supports children with disabilities, while VOICE works to facilitate active participation in court proceedings. Additionally, the BRIDGE project is evaluating small-scale, community-integrated detention houses to identify principles for transfer into national legal systems.
Timeline
October 15, 2026: Experts met to discuss the development of child-centred justice systems.
Culture Shift
These initiatives reflect a broader transition toward child-sensitive justice, moving away from adult-centric legal standards. By prioritizing the integration of support systems, the projects align with evolving European Union efforts to standardize protections for vulnerable participants.
These projects influence how legal professionals interact with children and their families during proceedings. For those involved in the justice system, these changes may lead to increased availability of intermediaries and support representatives.
The takeaway
Advancements in legal accessibility help ensure that children can understand and influence the outcomes of proceedings involving their own lives. These projects demonstrate that institutional reform often begins by prioritizing the needs of the most vulnerable participants.
Further reading
Learn more about advocacy and support frameworks in the Special Needs section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights.
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Should national justice systems prioritize specialized support to accommodate children with disabilities in legal proceedings?
