The Global Conference on Justice for Children Deprived of Liberty, held from 17-19 December 2024 at the Geneva International Conference Centre, Switzerland, and online, was a great success. The Global Conference was co-organised with Defence for Children International (DCI), UNICEF, and the NGO Panel on Children Deprived of Liberty. It marked the 5th anniversary of the publication of the Global Study on Children Deprived of Liberty, the 35th anniversary of the UNCRC, and the 45th from the foundation of DCI.
This three-day event brought together 25 children and youth activists and 150 participants from over 50 countries to address critical issues impacting children within the justice system, with particular emphasis on those deprived of liberty.
Participants included 17 national sections of DCI from different regions, members of the UN Inter-Agency Working Group on Children Deprived of Liberty, such as UNICEF, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, UNODC, IOM, and UNHCR, and members of the NGO Panel on Children Deprived of Liberty. Other attendees were major international and regional children’s rights NGOs, civil society networks, United Nations agencies, and other international and regional organisations, as well as practitioners from the field (judges, lawyers, social workers, and other high civil servants).
Key-note speakers included:
• Dr. Najat Maalla M’jid, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General on Violence against Children
• Prof. Virginia Gamba, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict
• Prof. Ann Skelton, Chairperson of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child
• Ms Kirsten Di Martino, Senior Advisor for Child Protection at UNICEF
• Prof. Manfred Nowak, author of the Global Study on Children Deprived of Liberty
• Ms Christina Kitsos, Mayor of the city of Geneva
These experts provided valuable insights and contributed significantly to the enriching discussions throughout the event.
Achievements and highlights
The Conference reviewed progress in implementing the UN Global Study On Children Deprived of Liberty’s recommendations and facilitated the exchange of promising practices from various countries and contexts across Africa, the Middle East, and Europe. Participants advocated for enhanced monitoring and data collection regarding children deprived of liberty. They proposed multi-stakeholder approaches to finding alternatives to child detention.
The event fostered collaboration across diverse stakeholders and laid the foundation for more equitable and child-centred justice systems. Thus, it became a global platform for advancing justice for children.
Children’s participation: A cornerstone of the Conference
DCI strongly believes that children are defenders of their rights and agents of change. A defining feature of the Conference was the active participation of children who are working on justice and deprivation of liberty. Their involvement ensured that children’s voices were heard, and that their perspectives were given due weight. The children’s contributions offered unique perspectives and innovative solutions to the challenges discussed during the Conference.
2nd DCI Children’s Rights Award: Celebrating child and youth advocates
The Conference also featured the second edition of the DCI Children’s Rights Award “I want justice NOW,” dedicated to justice and deprivation of liberty.
The Award ceremony, held on the evening of 17 December, underscored the importance of children’s participation and recognised children as defenders of their own rights. Two winners were rewarded: Blessing (17) from Sierra Leone and Ra’ad (15) from Jordan, who received their prize in person in Geneva, in the presence of Ms Fontanet, President of the State Council for the Canton of Geneva.
An inspiring exhibition showcased the best creations from winners at both international and national levels of the competition, highlighting the creative power of children to address these critical issues. The exhibition not only celebrated the artistic talents of child and youth advocates but also served as a powerful medium to communicate their messages on justice and children’s rights.
Consultations on CRC draft General Comment No. 27
The third day of the Conference focused on contributing to the draft CRC General Comment No. 27 on Children’s Rights to Access to Justice and Effective Remedies.
Children and participants provided crucial input for the ongoing drafting process, which is set to be finalised in 2025. The consultations ensured that the voices of children from diverse backgrounds were heard and taken into account in shaping future policies and practices on access to justice and effective remedies. This collaborative approach is expected to contribute to a more comprehensive and child-centred General Comment that reflects the needs and experiences of children worldwide.
Outcomes and future impact
The Conference fostered synergies to strengthen collective action for children’s rights, and to promote policies and practices focused on prevention and reintegration. Participants developed key advocacy messages for future high-level forums, including the upcoming World Congress on Justice with Children in Madrid on 2-4 June 2025. These messages underlined the need for shaping efficient global policies and practices for children deprived of liberty.
The event also showcased innovative practices that enable children’s meaningful and effective participation in justice processes. These practices, shared by experts and practitioners from different countries, offer valuable models for implementation in diverse global contexts.
Looking ahead: A roadmap for action
This Conference has served as an important stepping stone in the ongoing efforts to implement the UN Global Study’s recommendations on Children Deprived of Liberty. The momentum generated by this event will undoubtedly contribute to the continued implementation of the UN Global Study’s recommendations and the pursuit of justice for children deprived of liberty.
The Conference has set the stage for sustained collaboration and action, with participants committed to taking forward the lessons and strategies developed during the event. As we look to the future, the global community of child rights advocates, policymakers, and practitioners stands united in its commitment to creating a world where no child is unjustly deprived of liberty and where all children have access to fair, child-centred justice systems.
With all these outreach materials and contributions, a new Roadmap for Action will be finalised in the first quarter of 2025 and presented at the World Congress on Justice with Children in Madrid in June 2025. This new roadmap will have a longer perspective, 2025-2030, and will be aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals, in particular SDG 16 on peace and justice.
Finally, it was an opportunity for DCI, the NGO Panel and all the participants to pay special tribute to three individuals who have been instrumental in the completion and the implementation of the Global Study. Professor Manfred Nowak, the author of the Global Study, Professor Ann Skelton, Chair of the UNCRC and Dr. Najat Maalla M’jid, SRSG on Violence against children, and Chair of the UN Taskforce on Children Deprived of Liberty.
A heartfelt thank you to all participants, speakers, organisers, and contributors who made this Conference a success. Your dedication, expertise, and shared commitment to children’s rights have been instrumental in moving this conversation forward.
If you have missed the Conference or parts of it, please click here to watch selected sessions of the Conference (coming soon).
To view the video on the Anniversaries, click here.
To watch the Award presentation, click here.
