Working together with children for equitable justice
Ensuring that every child has equal access to child-centred, non-discriminatory, and inclusive justice systems in Europe is our core commitment. At the regional level, Tdh facilitates the sharing of best practices, raises awareness, advocates for children’s rights, and supports multidisciplinary services for children in contact with the law. Child-centred justice is further promoted through restorative justice, non-custodial measures, and stronger safeguards that protect children’s rights while preventing and addressing violence at all stages of the justice process.
We also foster restorative approaches in schools and communities and support innovative ways to prevent child involvement in crime. Through participatory methodologies, we strengthen children’s and young people’s agency, rights awareness, and ability to advocate for their rights.
Our impact in 2024
System strengthening and capacity development
Across Europe, we support the creation of multidisciplinary and integrated services for children in contact with the law, including models for victims and witnesses of violence and for children in suspected, accused or sentenced. We train police, judges, prosecutors, and social workers in restorative approaches in justice, child-friendly interviewing, case identification and handling, and trauma-informed approaches. We improve detention conditions, promote non-custodial measures, and strengthen probation and community services.
Digital technologies & AI in justice
We examine how the application of digital and AI tools, from remote hearings to AI court assistants, impact children’s access to justice. We assess risks, benefits and long-term effects, and work with children and professionals to navigate the digital justice landscape while ensuring tech complements, not replaces, child-centred approaches.
Rights awareness and civic engagement
We empower children as rights-holders, fostering their agency to address injustice and conflict peacefully. By supporting child- and youth-led initiatives and promoting democratic participation, we strengthen social cohesion and ensure young people can advocate on issues that matter to them.
Research and advocacy
We advocate nationally and at European level for stronger child-centred justice standards. As members of networks and working groups, such as the Child-Friendly Justice European Network and the Restorative Justice European Network, we produce research, policy briefs, and recommendations to influence law, policy and practice towards inclusive, non-discriminatory justice systems for children.
It's all about children
“Through Legisland, I learned about the importance of laws, how chaotic the world would be without them, and how they protect children,” said Alexandrina, a student and peer-to-peer educator from Chisinau, Moldova, who led educational sessions using the Legisland Board Game in her school.
Legisland is an interactive educational board game designed to help teenagers to understand key concepts in child justice – from offences and misdemeanors to the rights they hold when coming into contact with the law, and the actors who can support them. Developed in close collaboration with 40 members of the Terre des hommes Moldova Children's Advisory Board and tested in 20 schools across the country, the game was conceived as a bridge between legal norms and children’s real-life understanding.
Justice professionals on the i-ACCESS MyRights chatbot
The Global Initiative on Justice With Children
The Global Initiative on Justice With Children is a joint programme developed by a group of international organisations and led by Terre des hommes to address the most current issues related to children in contact and conflict with the law.
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.