Newsroom on Children's Rights

Atrás Slovenia puts the best interests of the child at the core of civil proceedings

Final conference showcases results of the joint European Union - Council of Europe project

On 10 June 2026, over 200 participants gathered in Ljubljana and online for the Final conference of the joint European Union – Council of Europe project "Ensuring the best interests of the child in civil court proceedings in Slovenia". The event highlighted the results of a three-year initiative aimed at strengthening the protection of children's rights in civil court proceedings in Slovenia.

Participants included representatives from national authorities, the European Commission, the Council of Europe, national stakeholders, child protection experts and members of academia.

Opening the event, Barbara Levstik Šega, State Secretary for the Ministry of Justice, emphasised the need for a justice system for children which “understands their needs, protects their rights and ensures they are treated with dignity”, in particular for those who find themselves in legal proceedings not by choice but due to life circumstances.

Kjartan Björnsson, Head of Unit Governance and Public Administration, SG REFORM, European Commission reminded that the national Strategy adopted under the project “is a living framework, a lighthouse for professionals, families, and above all for children going through one of the most difficult experiences of their lives. It stands regardless of political changes, grounded in rights, evidence and human dignity, and it now belongs to Slovenia”.

Keynote speaker Jade Barnett, Trainer and Youth Advocate, shared her personal experience of growing up in the care system, and discussed the need for stronger multidisciplinary and interagency approach to support children.

Throughout the conference, the participants explored new training opportunities, practical tools and guidelines developed by the project to support professionals working with children in civil proceedings and discussed the way forward for ensuring the best interests of the child. Discussions focused on strengthening interagency co-operation, determining the best interests of the child, assessing the risks and taking appropriate measures in case of suspicion of violence, better understanding the child’s needs, clarifying the role of guardians ad litem, and taking stock of the implementation of the five-year national Strategy and Action Plan.

The conference also provided an opportunity to present and discuss recent Council of Europe recommendations on the protection of the rights and best interests of the child in parental separation and care proceedings, which have been translated into Slovenian.

Closing the event, the Council of Europe reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Slovenia in embedding child-friendly justice into daily practice.

The project, co-funded by the European Union via the Technical Support Instrument and implemented by the Council of Europe in co-operation with the European Commission and the Slovenian Ministry of Justice, has run from 1 September 2023 and will officially conclude on 30 June 2026.

Programme in English and Slovenian

Strategy and action plan in English and Slovenian

Recommendation CM/Rec(2025)4 of the Committee of Ministers to member States on the protection of the rights and best interests of the child in parental separation proceeding s and its Explanatory Memorandum (in Slovenian)

Recommendation CM/Rec(2025)5 of the Committee of Ministers to member States on the protection of the rights and best interests of the child in care proceedings and its Explanatory Memorandum (in Slovenian)

Opening remarks by Simona Drenik Bavdek, Human Rights Ombudsperson of the Republic of Slovenia