On 11 June 2026 a high-level meeting was held in Kyiv to discuss the coordination of technical assistance for the development of child-friendly justice. The meeting was initiated by the Council of Europe Office in Ukraine in cooperation with UNICEF as part of the activities of the Inter-Agency Coordination Council on Justice for Children supported by the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine.
The event aimed to coordinate efforts towards implementing the key priorities of Ukraine's National Strategy for the Protection of Children's Rights in the Justice System until 2028 and its accompanying action plan and brought together senior representatives of Ukrainian authorities and state institutions, members of the Inter-Agency Coordination Council on Juvenile Justice, diplomatic missions, international partners and donors.
The development of a child-friendly justice system is critical to implementing international standards on children's rights, improving protection for children affected by armed conflict, as well as strengthening cooperation among government institutions and donors while preventing juvenile offending, and responding to risks children face in the time of war and in digital environment.
“This meeting provides a platform for government institutions and development partners to strengthen coordination and identify opportunities for greater synergy. By improving information-sharing and aligning technical assistance with national priorities, we can maximise the impact of our collective support and ensure that assistance reaches children and professionals where it is most needed. Effective coordination is a prerequisite for building a coherent and sustainable child-friendly justice system that delivers tangible results for children across Ukraine“, underlined Maciej JANCZAK, Head of the Council of Europe Office in Ukraine, in his welcome address to participants.
“Protection of children’s rights and the development of a child-friendly justice system remain the key priorities for the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine” – stated Liudmyla SUHAK, Deputy Minister of Justice of Ukraine.
The meeting demonstrated broad national and international commitment to advancing child-friendly justice in Ukraine through strengthened cooperation and continued efforts to ensure that every child interacting with the justice system receives protection, support, and access to justice in line with international standards.
The Council of Europe Project “Protecting the rights of Ukrainian children and ensuring child-friendly justice” is implemented by the Council of Europe in the framework of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Ukraine ‘Resilience, Recovery and Reconstruction’ for 2023-2026.
