Opening & welcome address: High-Level Opening Panel
- Languages: EN, FR, AR
Ms. Christina Kitsos, Mayor of Geneva
Mr. Khaled Quzmar, President of DCI
Moderator: Alex Kamarotos, Executive Director DCI
- Child/youth representative
- 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 (video)
- Prof. Manfred Nowak, Independent Expert and Author of the UN Global Study on Children Deprived of Liberty
- Prof. Ann Skelton, Chairperson of the Committee on the Rights of the Child
- Ms. Kirsten Di Martino, Senior Advisor, Child Protection, UNICEF
Plenary session 1: Children deprived of liberty in administration of justice and living in prison with their caregivers
- Languages: EN, FR, AR
- Concept note
Moderator: Ms. Atieno Odhiambo, Director, Legal Empowerment Fund at the Fund for Global Rights
- Child/youth representative
- Ms. Grace Agcaoili, Global Lead on Justice for Children, UNICEF
- Mr. Benoit Van Keirsbilck, Member of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child
- Mr. Yann Colliou, Programme manager Access to Justice, Terre des hommes foundation
- Prof. Nancy Loucks, Convener of the Child Rights Connect Working Group on Children Living in Prison with their Primary Caregivers
- Prof. Manfred Nowak, Independent Expert and Author of the UN Global Study on Children Deprived of Liberty
Watch Full Event Here:
Plenary session 2: Children deprived of liberty in the context of institutions
- Languages: EN, FR, AR
- Concept note
Moderator: Prof. Jennifer Davidson, Institute for Inspiring Children’s Futures, University of Strathclyde
Opening remarks: Dr. H.C. Guido Fluri, Guido Fluri Foundation
- Child/youth representative
- Dr Najat Maalla M’jid, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General on Violence against Children and chair of the United Nations Task Force on Children Deprived of Liberty
- Mr. Nigel Cantwell, DCI Founder and prime actor, UN Guidelines for Alternative Care of Children
- Karabo Ozah, Centre for Child Law, University of Pretoria
Plenary session 3: Children on the move deprived of liberty
- Languages: EN, FR, AR
- Concept note
Moderator: Ms. Nantina Tsekeri, Director DCI-Greece
- Child/youth representative
- Carolina Gottardo, Executive Director, International Detention Coalition
- Ms. Andria Kenney, Senior HRM Specialist from the IOM Immigration and Border Governance
- Mr. Michael Bochenek, Senior Counsel, Children’s Rights Division, Human Rights Watch
- Ms. Madeline Garlick, Chief of Protection Policy and Legal Advice, Division of International Protection, UNHCR
- Ms. Tasha Gill, Global Lead Migration and Displacement, UNICEF
Watch Full Event Here:
DCI Children’s Rights Award Ceremony 2024: “I want justice NOW!”
- Languages: EN, FR, AR
- Ms. Nathalie Fontanet, President of the State Council, Geneva Republic and Canton of Geneva
- Dr. Najat Maalla M’jid, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General on Violence against Children
- Mr. Nigel Cantwell, Founder of DCI & member of the DCI Children’s Rights Award Jury
The DCI 45th Anniversary’s Edition of the Children’s Rights Award, held on 17 December 2024 on the occasion of the Global Conference on Justice for Children Deprived of Liberty, showcased the incredible talent of young activists from diverse countries, including Sierra Leone, Tunisia, Ghana, Mauritania, Palestine, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Yemen, and Guinea. This year’s theme, “I want justice NOW!”, inspired powerful and thought-provoking entries across two main categories.
Category A: Storytelling through Digital Artwork
This category features photography, video clips, and other forms of digital creation. Notable winners include:
- 1st Place: Blessing, 17, from Sierra Leone – A children’s rights activist and talented speaker who uses creative means to advocate for change.
Category B: Storytelling through Non-Digital Artwork
This category includes paintings, drawings, comics, and other non-digital forms. Standout entries are:
- 1st Place: Ra’ad, 15, from Jordan – A self-taught artist whose work depicts the reality of children deprived of their rights in conflict zones.
Plenary session 4: Children deprived of liberty in contexts of armed conflict or national security
- Languages: EN, FR, AR
Moderator: Ms. Taghreed Jaber, Regional Director for Middle East and North Africa, Penal Reform International
- Child/youth representative
- Mr. Omar Khadr, Former child detainee at Guantanamo Bay; currently engaged with at-risk youth in Toronto, Canada
- Prof. Fionnuala D. Nì Aoláin, Former Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism on counter-terrorism and human rights (2017-2023)
- Dr. Mikiko Otani, Member of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child
- Mr. Alec Wargo, Office of the Special Representative of the Secertary-General on Children and Armed Conflict
- Ms. Alexanda Souza Martins, Coordinator, UNODC Global Programme to End Violence against Children at United Nations
- Ms. Jo Becker, Advocacy Director, Children’s Rights Division, Human Rights Watch
Breakout Discussions
Breakout Session 1:
Langages: EN, FR & AR
Moderator: Ton Liefaard
Children deprived of Liberty in the Administration of Justice &
Living in Prison with their Caregivers
Breakout Session 2:
Langages: EN
Moderator: Jennifer Davidson
Children Deprived of Liberty in the Context of Institutions
Breakout Session 3:
Langages: EN
Moderator: Nantina Tsekeri
Children on the Move Deprived of Liberty
Breakout Session 4:
Langages: EN, AR
Moderator: Taghreed Jaber
Children Deprived of Liberty in the Context of Armed Conflict or
National Security
Side Events
OMCT & CFJ-EN
Langages: EN & FR
Protecting Children Detained from Torture & Ill-Treatment Through Access to Justice at All Levels
Australia Children’s Commissioner
Langages: EN
‘Help Way Earlier!’ Transforming Child Justice to Improve Safety & Wellbeing
Migration Youth & Child Platform (MYCP), IDC & UNICEF
Langages: EN
Migration & Workstream on Alternatives to Detention
Defence for Children International (DCI)
Langages: EN & AR
Arbitrary by Default: Palestinian Children in the Israeil Military Court System
Terre des Hommes
Langages: EN & FR
Delegated Mediation in Criminal Matters in Africa: Challenges & Outlook
Defence for Children International (DCI)
Langages: EN
From Participation to Intergenerational Partnership: Redefining Child Justice with Youth Leadership
UNICEF
Langages: EN
Data on Children Detention
PRI & DCI
Langages: EN & AR
Roundtable Discussion on: Children Deprived of Liberty & Impacted by Armed Conflict Case Studies from Sudan, Yemen & Ukraine
Report back from DAY 1 + 2: Conclusions
- Languages: EN, FR, AR
Rapporteurs:
- Margaret Tuite, Administration of justice
- Mirjam Blaak, Children in institutions
- Pippo Costella, Children on the move
- Romain Consiglio, Children and armed conflict & national security
Synthesis of the days 1 & 2: Ton Liefaard & child/youth representative
Introductions and Methodology for the Day Overview: General Comment 27
- Languages: EN, FR, AR
Opening remarks: H.E. Mr. Christophe Payot, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Belgium to the UN in Geneva Watch Here
- Prof. Ann Skelton, Chairperson of the Committee on the Rights of the Child
- Prof. Hynd Ayoubi Idrissi, member of the Committee on the Rights of the Child
- Mr. Benoit Van Keirsbilck, member of the Committee on the Rights of the Child
- Ms. Vanessa Sedletzki, consultant for the General Comment n°27
Breakout Group Discussions
- Group 1
- Languages: EN, FR & AR
- Group 2
- Languages: EN
- Group 3
- Languages: EN
- Children's consultations
- Languages: EN & AR
Side Events
DCI
Languages: EN, FR & AR
Bridging the Gap: Advancing Access to Justice in the MENA Rgion, Africa & Europe
DCI
Languages: EN
She Leads: Enhancing Access to Justice for Girls
DCI
Languages: EN & AR
Child led Event on Access to Justice for Children in Armed Conflict
Reflection, Conclusions, and Next Steps
- Languages: EN, FR, AR
