Child Friendly Justice European Network

28/09/2026

Meet more of our speakers for the CFJ-EN Annual Seminar 2026!

Chrisoula Arcoudis, Project Officer in the Rights of the Child Team in DG Justice of the European Commission, works on advancing the implementation of the Commission Recommendation on integrated child protection systems. With more than 35 years of experience across Europe and Australia, she has contributed to inclusive policies for children’s rights and wellbeing through senior roles in governmental bodies, academia and international organisations, including the Council of Europe. Her academic background includes an LLM in International and European Law, with a focus on children’s rights, and an MSc in Global Health and Poverty.

Themba Mahleka, Associate Director of the Justice, Equality and Inclusion Program at Pathfinders for Peaceful, Just and Inclusive Societies, works to advance people-centred justice, equality and inclusion globally. He plays a leadership role across several international initiatives, including the Justice Action Coalition, where he leads work on justice financing, the Global Alliance Against Inequality and the African Alliance for People-Centered Justice. With more than 15 years of experience in justice, governance and sustainable financing, he has helped shape policies, partnerships and investment strategies aimed at strengthening accountability, expanding access to justice and transforming justice systems. Before joining NYU, he served as Co-Head of HiiL’s Justice Accelerator in Southern Africa and as Senior Legal Officer at Transparency International.

Léah Guyot, Program Officer with the Justice, Equality and Inclusion Program at Pathfinders for Peaceful, Just and Inclusive Societies, manages the Young Justice Leaders initiative and serves as focal lead for the Justice Action Coalition’s work on programming and inclusive justice, while also supporting the Coalition’s governance. Prior to joining CIC, she worked as a research consultant on security and development issues in the Sahel, with experience across disarmament, security and humanitarian affairs and extensive knowledge of the UN system, particularly the SDGs and SDG16+. She has also worked with international NGOs, UN agencies and policy think tanks, with a focus on displacement, international justice and people-centred approaches to improving access to justice.

They will join practitioners, policymakers and experts from across countries and sectors at the CFJ-EN Annual Seminar 2026: The Value of Investing in Child-Centred Justice.

📅 29-30 October 2026
📍 Brussels, Belgium

👉 Registration closes on 30 September: https://www.cfjnetwork.eu/annual-seminars/cfj-en-annual-seminar-2026

Co-hosted by Children & Young People's Centre for Justice (CYCJ) and the Institute for Inspiring Children's Futures. With the support of Pathfinders for Peaceful, Just and Inclusive Societies.

28/09/2026

Have you explored our Handbook on Child-Friendly Justice in Europe?

Updated annually, this practical guide brings together key knowledge and tools to support more child-friendly justice systems across Europe. Inside, you’ll find:

🔹 An overview of 150+ resources, including training courses, guidelines, and toolkits.
🔹 Key legal standards and case law (asylum, migration, domestic violence, climate justice, and more).
🔹 A directory of the main EU stakeholders in the field.
A useful resource for practitioners, policymakers, and advocates alike.

📥 Download the guide here: https://lnkd.in/eMp4dcrn

25/09/2026

Only 5 days left to register for the CFJ-EN Annual Seminar 2026!

Registration closes on 30 September for this year’s Annual Seminar, taking place on 29-30 October in Brussels.

Under the theme The Value of Investing in Child-Centred Justice, the seminar will bring together professionals from across countries and sectors for two days of discussion, interactive sessions and exchange on how investing in child-centred justice can lead to stronger and more effective justice systems.

📅 29–30 October 2026
📍 Brussels, Belgium
🎟️ Registration deadline: 30 September

👉 Secure your place: https://www.cfjnetwork.eu/annual-seminars/cfj-en-annual-seminar-2026

We look forward to seeing you in Brussels!

Co-hosted by Children & Young People's Centre for Justice (CYCJ), Institute for Inspiring Children's Futures.

With the support of Pathfinders for Peaceful, Just and Inclusive Societies.

24/09/2026

Join us for an evening of connection at the CFJ-EN Networking Dinner 2026! 🌍✨

Taking place on 29 October at 19:30 at Comet Louise, just a short walk from the Annual Seminar venue, the dinner will bring together participants, practitioners and experts from across countries and sectors in a more informal setting.

Over Belgian and international cuisine and rooftop views over Brussels, it will be an opportunity to continue the conversations from the first day of the CFJ-EN Annual Seminar 2026, strengthen connections and meet others working towards more child-centred justice systems.

The evening will also offer the opportunity to support the Child Justice Caravan and discover a dedicated exhibition showcasing the outcomes of child participation in Greece, Italy and Bulgaria.

Annual Seminar participants are welcome to attend with a partner or colleagues.

📍 Comet Louise | Place Stéphanie 20, Brussels
📅 29 October 2026 | 19:30
🎟️ Networking Dinner tickets are available until 30 September.

👉 Book your ticket: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/childfriendlyjusticeeuropeannetwork/2217586

We look forward to seeing you there!

Co-organised by the Children & Young People's Centre for Justice (CYCJ) and the Institute for Inspiring Children's Futures. With the support of co-sponsor Pathfinders for Peaceful, Just and Inclusive Societies.

23/09/2026

The recording of our webinar “From Understanding to Action: Rethinking Our Response to Young People Who Use Violence in Intimate Relationships” is now available on YouTube.

Co-organised by the Child Friendly Justice European Network (CFJ-EN) and the Work With Perpetrators - European Network (WWP EN), the webinar brought together 132 participants to explore what drives violence in young people’s intimate relationships, how society currently responds, and what effective judicial and psychosocial interventions can look like.

The discussion was moderated by Cédric Foussard, Interim Coordinator of CFJ-EN, and Ola H., Regranting Manager at WWP EN.

We were joined by Carolina Överlien, Professor of Gender-Based Violence and Health at Uppsala University and researcher at the Norwegian Centre for Violence and Traumatic Stress Studies (NKVTS), who opened the webinar with a presentation on the prevalence, impact and characteristics of violence and abuse in young people’s intimate relationships.

The panel discussion brought together Annemieke Wolthuis, lawyer and mediator specialising in children’s rights and youth law, Francesco Cecon, Head of Child Protection and Gender at ECPAT International, and Helene Kaland, Clinical Psychologist and Family Therapist at Alternative to Violence.

Among the messages that emerged from the discussion were the need to:
🔹 recognise the different forms that violence can take, including controlling behaviour, sexual violence and technology-facilitated abuse
🔹 better understand the specific dynamics of violence in young people’s relationships, including barriers to recognising abuse and seeking help
🔹 start prevention early, through education on healthy relationships, consent, boundaries and respect
🔹 strengthen adults’ ability to recognise and talk about violence with children and young people
🔹 ensure that responses are child-centred, trauma-informed and focused on both protection and appropriate accountability
🔹 approach restorative responses carefully, with appropriate safeguards, preparation and voluntary participation

Thank you to everyone who joined us and contributed to such an important discussion.

▶️ Watch the full recording on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHW9HJn3N2c&t=1041s

22/09/2026

“Investing in child-centred justice is not an optional extra.”

In this video, Professor Fiona Dyer, Director of the Children & Young People's Centre for Justice (CYCJ) at the University of Strathclyde, shares why investing in early intervention, the right support and rights-respecting justice systems matters for children, families and society as a whole.

On 29 October, Fiona will be joined by Donna McEwan, Practice Development Advisor at CYCJ, for our second plenary session on Scotland: Opportunities, Challenges, and Lessons Learned from Scotland’s Whole-of-Government Approach to Child-Centred Justice.

Drawing on Scotland’s Whole System Approach, which has sought to keep children out of formal justice processes since 2011, the session will explore what has been achieved, where challenges remain, and how investment decisions can better reflect children’s rights.

💬 How can we bridge the gaps between policy, practice and funding? What can we learn from Scotland’s experience, and how can these lessons inform approaches across Europe?

As Fiona highlights, our Annual Seminar offers a valuable opportunity to bring together people from different countries and justice systems to challenge one another, share what is working and build collective influence to change how child-centred justice is financed and delivered.

Join us in Brussels for two days of discussion, exchange and collective learning!

📅 29–30 October 2026
📍 Brussels, Belgium
🔗 Find out more and register: https://www.cfjnetwork.eu/annual-seminars/cfj-en-annual-seminar-2026

Places are limited - secure yours today!

Co-organised by the Children and Young People's Centre for Justice and the Institute for Inspiring Children's Futures at University of Strathclyde With the support of co-sponsor Pathfinders for Peaceful, Just and Inclusive Societies.

21/09/2026

⏳ The countdown is on for the CFJ-EN Annual Seminar 2026!

On 29-30 October, we’re bringing together policymakers, practitioners, researchers and children’s rights advocates in Brussels to explore the value of investing in child-centred justice.

What can you expect?
Keynote discussions on prevention, early intervention and the human and economic case for investing in child-centred justice.
Interactive activities, practical workshops and an immersive YExLS experience, bringing new perspectives to the way we think about justice.
Insights from across Europe and beyond.
Opportunities to exchange ideas, share experiences and connect with professionals from across sectors, with a networking dinner on 29 October to continue the conversations in a more informal setting.

This is more than a traditional conference. Come ready to experience, discuss, exchange and connect!

📍 Maison des Associations Internationales, Brussels

🔗 Explore the full programme and secure your place: https://lnkd.in/eAjNUCTb

We look forward to welcoming you in Brussels!

Children and Young People's Centre for Justice, Institute for Inspiring Children's Futures at University of Strathclyde, Pathfinders for Peaceful, Just and Inclusive Societies

18/09/2026

Meet three more speakers joining us at the CFJ-EN Annual Seminar 2026!

Bringing together expertise in children’s rights, justice reform, advocacy and systems change, Angela Vigil, Cédric Foussard and Dr Ally Dunhill will contribute to our discussions on the value of investing in child-centred justice.

Angela Vigil, Partner and Executive Director of Global Pro Bono at Baker McKenzie, works internationally across social impact and public interest law. Specialising in children’s law, she represents children before courts and human rights forums and contributes to developing more effective child rights systems and policies. Angela founded the Children’s Rights Summit and the first White House Hackathon on foster care and technology, and co-founded the Association of Pro Bono Counsel - APBCo. She also trains public interest lawyers in trial advocacy and serves as non-voting counsel to the Board of the Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth, and as an advisory board member of the American Bar Association Center for Human Rights.

Cédric Foussard, Interim Coordinator of the Child Friendly Justice European Network (CFJ-EN) and Founder of the International Centre for Justice Alliance (ICJAlliance), has nearly two decades of international experience in children’s rights and child justice. His work brings together policymakers, legal professionals, researchers, civil society and people with lived experience to advance holistic, child-centred approaches to justice. He is also Visiting Professor in Children's Justice at The Manchester Metropolitan University and an expert adviser to the Global Working Group on SDG16+ Justice for Children, led by the Institute for Inspiring Children's Futures' at the University of Strathclyde.

Dr. Ally Dunhill is the Director of Policy, Advocacy and Communications at Eurochild, Europe’s largest network of organisations working with and for children, with 234 members across 41 countries. Eurochild’s Children’s Council ensures that children’s perspectives inform the network’s work. Ally provides strategic leadership for the organisation’s engagement with EU institutions and its work to influence European policy and legislation affecting children and families. She brings more than 35 years of international experience across education and social care, advocating with and for children, young people and their families to achieve lasting changes in policy, legislation and practice.

Join them and contributors from across Europe and beyond for two days of exchange, participation and practical reflection on how investment in child-centred justice can create lasting change.

Find out more and register: https://www.cfjnetwork.eu/annual-seminars/cfj-en-annual-seminar-2026

Children & Young People's Centre for Justice (CYCJ), Institute for Inspiring Children's Futures, Pathfinders for Peaceful, Just and Inclusive Societies

15/09/2026

The full programme for the CFJ-EN Annual Seminar 2026 is out!

On 29-30 October in Brussels, we’ll bring together speakers and contributors representing institutions across Belgium, Scotland (UK), France, Germany, the Netherlands and the United States, alongside European and international organisations.

🌍 Hear perspectives from across sectors, including:

European and international organisations and initiatives: European Commission, Council of Europe, OECD - OCDE, UN SRSG on Violence Against Children, UN Committee on the Rights of the Child and Pathfinders for Peaceful, Just and Inclusive Societies

Civil society: Eurochild, Défense des Enfants International (DEI) - Belgique and Deutsches Kinderhilfswerk e.V.

Academia and legal expertise: Leiden University, University of Strathclyde and Youth Law Center

Private sector: Baker McKenzie and Google.

But this is not a programme designed only around listening.

Step into young people’s experiences through the Youth Experiential Learning Labs (YExLS).
Take part in interactive plenary sessions and activities exploring how to make a stronger case for sustained investment in child-centred justice.
Work through practical questions in hands-on workshops on Barnahus, access to justice and justice financing.
Exchange experiences and approaches with professionals working across different systems, sectors and countries.

You’ll leave with stronger evidence, new perspectives and connections to help advance the case for investing in child-centred justice in your own context.

29-30 October 2026
Brussels, Belgium

🎟️ Places are filling up - register here: https://www.cfjnetwork.eu/annual-seminars/cfj-en-annual-seminar-2026

With Children & Young People's Centre for Justice (CYCJ) and the Institute for Inspiring Children's Futures, University of Strathclyde, and with the support of Pathfinders for Peaceful, Just and Inclusive Societies.

14/09/2026