EU Justice Ministers, meeting on Friday 16 July at an informal meeting in Slovenia, were asked to take stock of the progress they still need to make to ensure their justice systems are more child-friendly.
Ensuring that “all children feel comfortable and safe in their contact with justice systems” is one of the priorities identified by the European Commission in its new ‘Strategy on the Rights of the Child’ (see EUROPE 12685/14), recalled EU Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders at the meeting.
In particular, the ministers identified a need to protect juvenile suspects involved in criminal proceedings and to better assist them in their subsequent reintegration into society. They also emphasised the need “to provide specific protection for children in civil proceedings, especially in cases of cross-border family conflicts and abductions”, the Slovenian minister responsible, Marjan Dikaučič, told the press.
The EU-27 would also have stressed the importance of ensuring short and rapid procedures. The European Commission’s strategy on this point noted that “mechanisms to avoid duplication of hearings of children or collection of evidence are not always in place”.
The Commission also believes that progress needs to be made to ensure that professionals in the sector are properly trained to interact with children in an age-appropriate way - for example, when communicating the results of a procedure. According to the latest EU Justice Scoreboard, the child’s right to be heard is not always respected.
In the Member States, it would seem that the Scandinavian model of “Barnahus” or “children’s homes” is emerging as part of the answer. Several ministers addressed the issue on Friday.
Initially developed for child victims or witnesses of sexual abuse, the “Barnahus” provide a safe space where children can be interviewed, medically examined for forensic purposes or receive appropriate therapeutic support.
Slovenia was able to create its first “Barnahus” in a joint project with the EU and the Council of Europe, and on Friday invited other delegations to consider what steps the EU could take to enable this initiative to be further expanded.
More broadly, Slovenia will focus on children’s rights during its Presidency and will work on the drafting of Council conclusions on the EU strategy on the rights of the child. (Original version in French by Agathe Cherki)