Our Members
The CFJ-EN brings together 36 expert organisations and individuals from 21 European countries, all working with a shared commitment to advancing child-friendly justice.
We welcome new members throughout the year. Visit the Join Us page to learn about membership opportunities and how to become part of our network.
Find out more about our current members below.
DCI – Belgium works to promote and defend children's rights, mainly through advocacy and continuing education. DCI-Belgium also monitors legislation, politics: it takes up cases where children's rights are not respected. DCI-Belgium is also active internationally and regularly works on European and global projects. These projects involve research work that allows the identification of current issues and the possibility of undertaking actions adapted to these issues, such as information and awareness raising. DCI-Belgium has specific expertise in child friendly justice, children deprived of their liberty and children on the move.
Defence for Children the Netherlands stands up for the rights of all children, in the Netherlands and globally. They advocate for clear entitlements in the law and policy, child-centred decision-making and child participation. They promote children’s rights through public campaigns, training and education. The Child Rights Helpdesk provides information & legal assistance. The Helpdesk, research and monitoring form the basis of policy influencing. They advocate for the most vulnerable: children who are victims or at risk of violence. These are children in contact with the law, children in detention, children who grow up in poverty, and children on the move.
DCI-Italy promotes, for and with children, a different world respectful of their rights. The organisation works so that children are finally recognised as persons and citizens who are entitled to rights. They lead analysis and research, raise awareness and provide trainings. They also have a role of reporter of violations to interrupt abuses and point out responsibilities. Moreover, they have a pro-active role and promote legal proposals to the government so that policies and laws are geared towards protecting the rights of children. They have specific expertise in juvenile justice, deprivation of liberty, procedural rights and children on the move.
DCI-Greece's mission is to promote and protect the rights of all children. DCI-Greece has a children’s rights help desk which provides legal assistance to migrant children. This help desk also serves as a focal point for professionals who are dealing with cases of migrant children and offers trainings to lawyers. Additionally, DCI-Greece monitors the implementation of the existing law. Moreover, they identify gaps in the current legislation and legal system and plea for the necessary adjustments in law and policy. They have a specific expertise in children on the move, legal aid, juvenile justice and strategic litigation.
DCI-France is a network of members concerned about the well-being of children and convinced of the need to respect their rights. It has set up local delegations acting in different territories: institutions, cities, departments, and regions. DCI-France and its local delegations put pressure on the public authorities by calling on them and making concrete legal proposals. DCI-France also reports to the monitoring bodies on the implementation of international conventions. Moreover, they participate in European research and working groups. DCI-France has specific expertise and acts mainly in the field of juvenile justice and unaccompanied minors.
DCI-Spain is a non-governmental organisation that works since 2012 for the promotion, defence and protection of Human Rights of Children. They carry out several training for officials who work in the child protection system and with families that take care for children without parental care. They also lead research projects working closely with Public Administrations. Moreover, they develop campaigns to protect child rights and improve public policies. DCI-Spain has specific expertise in juvenile justice, children participation and alternative care.
DCI-Czechia works every day to promote and raise awareness on children's rights among the public but also in the political sphere. It organises national seminars in the Czech Parliament. Moreover, as an advisory institution, DCI cooperates with ministries during the preparatory phase of new legislations. They work closely together with the national network of children’s and youth parliaments, to give the opportunity to children and youth to be actors of change for their own future. DCI-CZ has specific expertise in child participation and juvenile justice.
Brave Phone was established in 1997 as a helpline for abused and neglected children. Over the years, Brave phone has become a source of help for all kinds of problems faced by children in their daily lives offering support to children and youngsters, but also to their parents and professionals through diverse community programmes. Brave phone also conducts many international projects, mostly focused on training experts who work with children and families and raising public awareness on child rights problems in society.
CICS.NOVA - Interdisciplinary Centre of Social Sciences is a public research unit based in Lisbon, Portugal, with four regional poles built on a multiple scales network. CICS.NOVA’s mission is to undertake high quality and innovative interdisciplinary research for critical thinking in social sciences and policymaking. The Rights, Policy & Justice research team has extensive experience in bringing together the resources and the expertise of community-based organisations, State entities and researchers to address issues concerning children rights, youth justice practice and policy, child friendly justice and children deprived of their liberty.
The CYCJ is dedicated to supporting improvements in youth justice, contributing to better lives for individuals. CYCJ’s vision is a for Scotland where all individuals and communities are safe and flourish and where Scottish youth justice practice, policy and research are internationally renowned and respected. The Centre contributes to this by developing, supporting and understanding youth justice practice, policy and research in Scotland, and through seeking and sharing learning internationally.
The German Children’s Fund has been working for a child friendly Germany for over 50 years. It works towards the comprehensive implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child with a focus on the participation of all children and young people and the fight against child poverty; develops and implements projects to promote children’s rights in society; advocates for children’s interests in policy-making. As part of the implementation of the CoE children’s rights strategy, it promotes child friendly justice and children’s rights in legislative and administrative proceedings.
The Law Institute of the Lithuanian Centre for Social Sciences (LI-LCSS) is a public research institute established in 1991 in Vilnius, Lithuania. The LIL conducts research in various fields of law and provides legal opinions and extended research upon requests of public institutions in Lithuania (the Ministry of Justice, the Parliament, high-level courts, etc.). In addition, the LIL and its researchers actively participate in national and international research projects. Among other areas, the LIL has extensive experience in conducting applied research and organising trainings to professionals in the field of children rights and juvenile justice.
The Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Fundamental and Human Rights is a centre of competence for human rights work. Internationally recognised experts combine cutting-edge research with practical human rights work making the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute one of the leading Human Rights institutions in Europe. Our independent research offers facts in decision-making processes and in public debate. Through educational work for school teachers, training of members of the executive forces and the judiciary, through advocacy work for and monitoring of state institutions, our work has a sustainable and tangible effect for all parties concerned.
The association “Social Activities and Practices Institute” is a non-governmental organisation, working for more than 20 years to guarantee respect for the rights of children by participating in child and family-related policy development, providing social services for children and families, developing and implementing programmes and activities for vocational training, and providing methodological support and supervision for professionals. The organisation has worked for child friendly justice, both for children, victims of violence, and for children in conflict with the law. SAPI created the first specialised rooms for interrogation of children in Bulgaria, as well as the first practices of specialised support in conducting them.
Terre des hommes (Tdh), founded in 1960, is the leading Swiss child relief organisation. Tdh is committed to bringing meaningful and lasting change to the lives of children and youth, especially to those most exposed to risks by providing essential services, assistance and training. Tdh strives to ensure the effective application of children's rights as defined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child and other human rights instruments related to justice for children.
Terre des hommes (Tdh), founded in 1960, is the leading Swiss child relief organisation. Tdh is committed to bringing meaningful and lasting change to the lives of children and youth, especially to those most exposed to risks by providing essential services, assistance and training. Tdh strives to ensure the effective application of children's rights as defined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child and other human rights instruments related to justice for children.
The AIRE Centre litigates before the European Court of Human Rights and the European Court Of Justice and has been involved in over 100 cases since the organisation was founded in 1993. the AIRE Centre's policy has always been to offer litigation expertise in whatever form it is needed, which may mean acting as representatives on the record, sharing expertise on procedural and substantive law, or intervening as an expert third party in cases which the AIRE Centre is not assisting in the representation.The AIRE Centre works to ensure that all people enjoy their rights under European Law and provids a unique service on the interrelationship between the two European legal orders and international Human Rights Law.
Terre des hommes (Tdh), founded in 1960, is the leading Swiss child relief organisation. Tdh is committed to bringing meaningful and lasting change to the lives of children and youth, especially to those most exposed to risks by providing essential services, assistance and training. Tdh strives to ensure the effective application of children's rights as defined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child and other human rights instruments related to justice for children.
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The DCI World Service Foundation (DCI-WS) was established by the DCI International Movement in 2016 to strengthen its work and guide the implementation of the Movement’s Strategic Framework by supporting the development of projects, mainly by providing technical expertise and conceptual advice to DCI’s National Sections and Regional Desks.
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DCI-WS is responsible for ensuring a systematic approach in the Movements’ relations with donors, public and private partners, who would like to actively contribute to the growing impact of DCI’s activities around the globe.
A long-time actor in human rights protection, Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights (HFHR) works to develop a culture based on respect for human rights in Poland and abroad. HFHR is one of the oldest non-governmental organisations acting in the field of human rights protection in Poland. HFHR’s main areas of activity are: international and national education; strategic litigation; providing legal advice; monitoring the human rights dimension of actions taken by public authorities and organising WATCH DOCS human rights in film, one of the world’s largest human rights film festivals.
The Child Rights Centre is an association of citizens established in 1997 with the main aim of implementing child rights in Serbia in accordance with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. The main course of action of the Centre is aimed at creating a favourable institutional, legislative and strategic framework for the full achievement of child rights in Serbia through activities focused on the introduction and implementation of laws, policies and practices that contribute to the advancement of the well-being of children, protection of their rights and their full participation in society. Furthermore, the Child Rights Centre is highly committed to actively involving children in all of its program activities, aiming to empower them and amplify their voices.
Terre des hommes Romania (Tdh Romania) is an independent, neutral, and impartial organization that has set out from the beginning to make significant and lasting changes in the lives of children and young people, especially for those most at risk. Tdh has been active in Romania since 1992 where we work at the national level. For the past 30 years Tdh has been among the few Romanian NGOs active in the area of children and youth on the move (supporting children and youth whose parents work abroad, Roma children and youth, refugee children and youth, and asylum seekers) and in the field of child justice (assisting children and youth who are victims and witnesses of crimes, facing prosecution or who are deprived of liberty). Within the Access to Justice Programme, we make sure to advance a fair and child-friendly justice for all children and youth!
The Alliance of Lawyers for Human Rights (A.A.D.H.) is a French clearinghouse that stands up for children’s rights by matching requests for legal assistance with pro bono lawyers. Since 2009, A.A.D.H. legal teams have been successfully representing and defending the most vulnerable in cases involving bullying, children on the move, child trafficking, incest, and more. A.A.D.H. was involved in the 2022 CLEAR-Rights programme, which aimed to enhance children’s understanding of the legal system. A.A.D.H. also works to protect unaccompanied minors through its “Enfance Précarité Zéro” programme, by providing seminars in areas such as migration, social and criminal law as well as job-search workshops.
Terre des hommes (Tdh), founded in 1960, is the leading Swiss child relief organisation. Tdh is committed to bringing meaningful and lasting change to the lives of children and youth, especially to those most exposed to risks by providing essential services, assistance and training. Tdh strives to ensure the effective application of children's rights as defined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child and other human rights instruments related to justice for children.
Terre des hommes (Tdh), founded in 1960, is the leading Swiss child relief organisation. Tdh is committed to bringing meaningful and lasting change to the lives of children and youth, especially to those most exposed to risks by providing essential services, assistance and training. Tdh strives to ensure the effective application of children's rights as defined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child and other human rights instruments related to justice for children.
Penal Reform International (PRI) is an NGO working globally to promote criminal justice systems that uphold everyone’s human rights and do no harm. With over 30 years of experience, PRI is a trusted partner for varied justice actors – from national and regional authorities to policymakers, academics and global bodies, like the United Nations – supporting non-discriminatory and effective criminal justice through research, advocacy, and practical programmes. Since 1989, PRI has worked toward better detention conditions and use of alternatives to imprisonment in Europe and beyond, bringing countries in line with international standards and promoting the rights of all people in conflict with the law, including children, women and girls, foreign nationals, racial or ethno-cultural minorities, and LGBTQI+ persons. A founding member of the Global Initiative on Justice With Children, PRI works to ensure just and appropriate responses for children in contact with the law.
Methoria is a small legal and policy organization founded in late 2015, by Catriona Jarvis, former judge of the UK Upper Tribunal, (Immigration and Asylum Chamber), and Syd Bolton (Philip Bolton), children’s human rights lawyer, as co-conveners, and register as a charity in England and Wales in 2020 (1188043). Methoria works on projects concerning access to justice for the most vulnerable in the context of migration and asylum law, policy and practice. At present there are two programmes, First Rights, advocating with and for refugee and migrant children. Our Equal Justice for Migrant Children Project is working to establish a special court for refugee and migrant children, beginning with a proposed pilot court in the UK, based on the UNCRC and other international law so that the model that will be transferrable to other countries. Our second Programme, Last Rights, to which UK lawyer Ciaran King is a legal and administrative consultant. The Last Rights project addresses legal gaps and failures and develops international best practice and procedure for working with dead, missing and bereaved refugees and migrants to ensure their rights are respected, drawing upon the Mytilini Declaration of 11 May 2018 and the Memorial of Grief and Grievances of 24 March 2023.
Inspiring Children's Futures is a partnership at the University of Strathclyde with a collective vision of ensuring that children and young people have what they need to reach their full potential, particularly those facing adversity. Children’s human rights and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development guide our efforts as we work to reveal and resolve the structural barriers preventing children from fulfilling their potential. We work with a range of interdisciplinary partners to develop the evidence-base and strengthen the political will to support effective policy and practice responses for children, especially those who are most likely to be ‘left behind’.
Validity is an international non-governmental human rights organisation that uses legal strategies to promote, protect and defend the human rights of people with intellectual or psychosocial disabilities worldwide. We strive for a world of equality, where emotional, mental and learning differences are valued equally; where the inherent autonomy and dignity of each person is fully respected; and where human rights are realised for all people without discrimination. We act on the instructions of children and adults with intellectual or psychosocial disabilities, serve as a watchdog, monitoring governments, exposing abuses and advocating for change and contribute to the broader disability rights movement by offering our legal expertise. We address the most widespread and systematic violations of human rights that people with intellectual or psychosocial disabilities face around the world. This includes denying them the right to an inclusive education, the right to legal capacity, including participation in justice systems, and the right to live independently.
Marine Braun, Consultant, Child Rights Expert
Lawyer by training, Marine Braun, has over 13 years of experience as a multi-country project coordinator in various institutions and as an independent consultant, notably with the United Nations (UNICEF, UNDP, IOM), the Council of Europe (within the Children's Rights Division), and civil society organisations (Defence for Children International, Terre des Hommes, etc.). Her expertise focuses on issues related to access to child-friendly justice and active participation of children in all decisions affecting them. Through her assignments, she has provided support to various governments and institutional partners across three continents, namely America, Africa, and Europe. She has conducted in-depth research and developed tools to promote children's rights. Her approach aligns with the fundamental principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), emphasising the best interests of the child and their active participation. She firmly believes that the voice of the child must be heard and considered at all levels.
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Silvia Randazzo, Independent Child Justice Expert
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Silvia is a criminologist, currently engaged in a PhD at KU Leuven (Belgium), with comparative research on diversion practices with children in conflict with the law in Europe. She has been involved as researcher and project coordinator in several European and International multi-country projects, covering a range of issues related to child justice: violence against children, discrimination in accessing justice, individual assessment, restorative justice, and legal aid and legal assistance, among others. As an international consultant, she has been developing methodologies and research tools, conducting in-depth research, drafting policy papers and training materials for professionals, by collaborating with several actors and NGOs active in the field – including many of the members of the CFJ-EN, Penal Reform International and the European Forum for Restorative Justice – as well as with European and International organisations, such as UNODC Global Programme to End Violence against Children, and the Child Rights Unit of the Council of Europe. Silvia is strongly committed to what can and should be done to avoid unfair treatment, stigmatisation, (re)victimisation, and discrimination of children who enter in contact with the law, and she firmly believes in the compelling role that children and youth voices and experiences have on evidence-based policy making.
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Odete Severino Soares, Child Rights Expert
Currently, she is a PhD candidate in Law in Nova School of Law of Nova University of Lisbon, where she has a Master’s in Law, focusing the theme “Children Rights Participation in the Civil Judicial proceedings”. She is also a researcher at Center for Research and Development in Legal Sciences — Ratio Legis, linked to the Autonomous University of Lisbon. She was the Executive Coordinator of the 1STAdvanced Studies in Children's Rights Programme of Nova School of Law (1ST edition, September 2021) and currently she is the co-coordinator of the New Advanced Studies in Children's Rights Programme of Autonomous University of Lisbon. She is the co-author of the recent Book “Discovering Children`s Rights” – edition of Portuguese Parliament. She has a public and independent contribution in the Portuguese press that constitutes an important input in supplying information and increase public investment on children’s rights in Portugal.
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Cecilia Popa, Criminal Justice Consultant
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​Cecilia currently works in the field of cyber capacity building, with a personal interest in victimisation in cyberspace, the safety of children in online and the intersection between restorative approaches and cybercrime. She brings over 14 years of experience in the fields of criminal justice and human rights, contributing to prison reentry efforts in Romania, working with restorative justice practices in the UK, the US and Romania, analysing conflict resolutions in Thailand, Cambodia and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, fighting cybercrime through the implementation of the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime, and advancing child-friendly justice systems across Europe. Cecilia holds the distinction of being both a Fulbright Scholar Alumna and a Rotary Peace Fellow Alumna. Her academic journey, focused on social sciences, criminal justice, and conflict resolution, led her to diverse places, spanning Romania (Babes-Bolyai and Bucharest Universities), the United States (John Jay College of Criminal Justice), and Thailand (Chulalongkorn University).
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The German Institute for Human Rights is Germany’s independent national human rights institution. Accredited with A-status under the United Nations Paris Principles, the Institute provides policy advice, promotes human rights education, conducts applied research, and collaborates with international organisations.
Supported by the German Bundestag, the Institute monitors the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, with dedicated Monitoring Bodies for each. It also serves as the National Rapporteur Mechanism for the Council of Europe Conventions on Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (Istanbul Convention) and Trafficking in Human Beings.
Terre des hommes (Tdh) has been active in Greece since 2016. The organisation works to strengthen child protection systems, reform social assistance, and ensure children’s voices shape their communities. Tdh focuses on protecting children from abuse and neglect, supporting families affected by migration, and improving access to justice for children.
Through capacity-building initiatives, Tdh trains professionals to identify and respond to child protection risks. It also empowers children and youth to advocate for their rights and promotes child-centred justice approaches that respect their specific needs. Thousands of children, parents, and professionals benefit from Tdh’s work each year, contributing to safer and more inclusive environments across Greece.
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Maartje Berger, Independent youth justice & restorative justice expert
Maartje Berger is an independent children’s rights expert, legal advisor, and MfN mediator, specialising in youth justice, youth law, restorative justice, and youth participation. In collaboration with Restorative Justice Nederland (RJN), she advocates for a child-friendly, pedagogical, and restorative approach in law, policy, and practice.
From 2008 to 2023, Maartje served as Legal Advisor on Children’s Rights at Defence for Children NL. Currently, she works as a project coordinator, advocacy officer, trainer, and researcher on national and international (EU) projects focused on youth justice and restorative justice. Her work aims to engage policymakers, youth lawyers, caregivers, and students. Maartje has authored reports and articles on topics including children in police custody, children in conflict with the law, deprivation of liberty, and youth restorative justice.
In addition to her legal background, Maartje is trained in Mediation in Penal Cases and therapeutic and pedagogical approaches such as Emotionally Focused Mediation (EFM) and Life Space Crisis Intervention (LSCI).
Her work is guided by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), and she is a strong advocate for incorporating restorative justice into the youth justice system. Maartje campaigns for improved access to restorative justice for young victims, suspects, and offenders, as well as for greater youth specialisation among mediators, methods, and restorative practices.
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Annemieke Wolthuis, Lawyer, consultant, and deputy juvenile court judge
Dr Annemieke Wolthuis is a lawyer and mediator specialising in children’s rights and youth law. She completed her law degree at Maastricht University, where she focused on communication techniques and problem-based learning. Through her studies and internships in Sweden and Switzerland, she gained valuable knowledge and experience in human rights and children’s rights.
Annemieke worked for 10 years at Defence for Children International in Amsterdam and, in 2012, earned her doctorate on restorative justice and children’s rights. Her research aimed to integrate restorative justice more deeply into the heart of the Dutch juvenile justice system. She has also worked as a researcher at university level and with the Verwey-Jonker Institute. Annemieke later completed a mediation training programme to engage more directly in practical work with young people.
Currently, Annemieke is a trainer, mediator, and deputy juvenile court judge at the Rotterdam District Court. She also works with the Restorative Justice Nederland Foundation and has served as Vice-Chair of the European Forum for Restorative Justice for the past six years. Annemieke primarily delivers training in personal and family law, children’s rights, and juvenile justice.
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The Aditus Foundation, established in 2011, is an independent, voluntary, and non-profit organisation based in Malta, dedicated to ensuring access to human rights for all. Founded by lawyers, the foundation works towards a society where everyone in Malta can fully enjoy their fundamental rights, with a focus on supporting the most vulnerable communities. Through its Legal Unit, Aditus provides information, legal support, and empowerment to individuals, prioritising those in urgent need. The foundation’s work includes advocacy, campaigns, and projects aimed at addressing legal and policy gaps. Aditus collaborates with national and international partners to promote justice, equality, and accountability.