YOUTH HAVE THEIR SAY IN JUSTICE!

The Council of Europe has recently adopted Guidelines on child friendly justice intended to enhance children’s access to and treatment in justice. In the drafting process, it decided to listen directly to children and young people.

Around 30 partners throughout Europe have contributed to this consultation, preparing and disseminating a questionnaire, but also organising discussion groups with children and young people in their different surroundings in order to find out their views about justice in all its forms.

In total, over 3700 replies have been received from 25 countries, analysed by Dr Ursula Kilkelly, an Irish youth rights expert, and taken into account in the drafting of the guidelines on child-friendly justice. Key themes include family, mistrust of authority and need for respect, and the importance for children and young people to be listened to. We invite you to consult the report.

This consultation was carried out in spring 2010 with the generous support of the Government of Finland.

A BIG THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO TOOK PART!