INTRODUCTION
Our 2026 CFJ-EN Summer School is an intensive, interactive three-day programme in Louvain-la-Neuve that provides professionals with practical tools and real-world knowledge to work effectively with child victims whilst upholding their rights. The programme focuses on the meaningful participation of child victims in criminal proceedings, navigating critical legal developments such as the Revised EU Victims' Rights Directive. It also explores practical and effective approaches such as the Barnahus model to bridge the gap between European standards and everyday professional practice.
In English
Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
20 Participants
15–17 July 2026
About the Summer School
Children who are victims of crime are first and foremost children — yet their rights, voices and needs are not always recognised in practice. The CFJ-EN Summer School, Ensuring the Meaningful Participation and Protection of Child Victims in Criminal Proceedings, offers a unique opportunity for professionals to strengthen their practice through hands-on, case-study-based learning grounded in real-life challenges.
Taking place at a particularly important moment for child victims’ rights in Europe, the Summer School will also provide participants with key updates on the revised EU Victims’ Rights Directive and other evolving international standards on children’s access to justice.
The programme combines legal and policy developments with hands-on learning rooted in real-life practice. Through case studies, role-play exercises, group work, empathy and bias exercises, participants will work through the kinds of situations and dilemmas they encounter in their daily professional lives.
Learning from practice and from each other
Led by experienced European and international practitioners, the Summer School is designed to give participants practical tools, models and approaches that can be applied directly in their work with child victims. Participants will also learn from one another through peer exchange and collaborative discussion, bringing together professionals from different sectors who often face similar challenges when supporting children in criminal proceedings.
The programme will explore the experience of a diverse range of child victims, including children in migration, Roma children, LGBTQI+ children, children coerced into criminal activities, and children who experience violence within justice systems themselves. It will examine how perceptions of “legitimate” victimhood can shape access to justice and support.
Who should attend?
Designed for lawyers, judges, prosecutors, police officers, social workers, psychologists, victim support professionals, and practitioners across related fields, the Summer School offers a collaborative space to strengthen professional practice, exchange expertise and build more child-centred justice systems.
Learning Objectives
By the end of the summer school, participants will be able to:
1
Understand and apply key international and European legal standards on child victims’ rights, including the revised Victims’ Rights Directive, and translate these norms into child-sensitive practices.
3
Implement child-centred and child-friendly approaches that support children’s meaningful, safe and empowering participation in criminal proceedings, through effective communication and procedural safeguards.
5
Recognise the benefits of alternative and restorative justice approaches, assessing their potential to empower child victims while ensuring appropriate safeguards and ethical standards.
2
Recognise the diversity of child victims and challenge common assumptions, gaining a deeper awareness of how identities are multi-faceted and how multiple vulnerabilities shape children’s experiences of victimisation and justice.
4
Recognise the benefits of multidisciplinary and holistic responses to child victimisation, understanding the roles of different professionals and encouraging multidisciplinary cooperation to improve access to justice for children.
6
Evaluate practical case studies and practices, to identify challenges and improve responses to child victimisation; and to confidently access and make full use of the wealth of available resources and apply them in their own national context and professional routine.
Curriculum
The Summer School is structured around five main thematic areas and corresponding learning blocks, which build progressively over the course of the 2.5 days.
The first morning sets the foundations for the training, clarifying key concepts – including the relevant legal standards and a reframing of who child victims are.
Discussions then continue on the afternoon of Day 1 and throughout Day 2, focusing on the practical questions of what meaningful participation looks like in practice and how to ensure it, including safeguards, challenges and power dynamics.
The latter part of Day 2 and Day 3 shift towards action and implementation, exploring how systems and professionals can respond effectively through multidisciplinary, child-centred and restorative approaches.
Topics
Legal and policy framework for child victims’ rights (Day 1)
The training begins with an overview of the key legal and policy frameworks shaping children’s rights at EU and international levels. Participants will be introduced to the main instruments governing child victims’ rights, including the revised EU Victims’ Rights Directive and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, as well as relevant General Comments – notably the forthcoming General Comment No. 27 on access to justice.
The session will also explore other regional instruments addressing procedural safeguards, access to information, support services and participation rights. Participants will reflect on the obligations these frameworks create for justice professionals.
(Re)framing the profiles of child victims (Day 1)
This session examines who child victims are in today’s justice landscape, challenging common assumptions and biases through practical exercises. Participants will explore a range of profiles – including children coerced into criminal activities, children in migration, Roma children, LGBTQI+ children and those experiencing violence within the justice system.
The session considers how vulnerability, identity and context shape children’s experiences of crime and justice, and invites reflection on whether some groups are perceived as more “legitimate” victims than others. An intersectional approach underpins the discussion, recognising that the label of “child victim” encompasses a wide range of lived realities.
Safeguards and principles for meaningful child participation (Day 1–2)
Participants will explore the principles of child participation and child-friendly justice, focusing on how to create conditions that enable children to engage safely and meaningfully in proceedings.
This learning block examines both principles and practical application, including:
Assessing children’s individual needs, circumstances and best interests
Balancing children’s rights with due process and defence rights
Understanding and addressing power dynamics in participation
Ensuring privacy, confidentiality and protection from harm
Applying appropriate communication tools tailored to children’s developmental needs
Multidisciplinary approaches and the Barnahus model (Day 2–3)
Building on the earlier sessions, this module focuses on practical, child-centred responses within justice systems. Participants will explore coordinated, multidisciplinary approaches involving justice authorities, social workers, psychologists, health professionals and specialised services.
Particular attention is given to the Barnahus model, highlighting how integrated approaches can reduce the number of interviews, improve evidence collection, ensure therapeutic follow-up and create safe environments for children. The session will also address interagency cooperation, information-sharing and case management.
Restorative justice and alternative approaches (Day 3)
The final module introduces restorative justice and other alternative approaches in cases involving child victims. Participants will explore how restorative practices can support healing, accountability and empowerment, while considering their suitability across different types of offences.
The session also examines the safeguards required to prevent re-traumatisation, alongside key ethical considerations such as consent, participation and practitioner responsibilities. In addition, it highlights the role of diversion and alternative pathways, particularly for children navigating the justice system in multiple roles, ensuring responses remain sensitive to their complex situations.
Course Convenors
Practical Information
Venue and accommodation
Gîte Mozaik
Rue de la Gare 2
1348 Louvain-la-Neuve
Belgium
The Summer School will take place in Louvain-la-Neuve, a vibrant university town located around 30 minutes from Brussels. Easily accessible by public transport and surrounded by green spaces, the setting offers a calm and focused environment for learning and exchange. Accommodation is on-site.
Summer School and Accommodation Package
Total cost: €700
This includes:
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Three nights’ accommodation (14–17 July 2026)
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All meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner and coffee breaks)
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Full access to all training sessions and activities
By staying on site, you’ll have opportunities to connect with other students, share experiences and learn together.
Accessibility
CFJ-EN is committed to ensuring that the Summer School is accessible and inclusive for all participants. The venue can accommodate participants with disabilities, and efforts will be made to ensure that training rooms, accommodation and common areas are accessible.
Participants with specific accessibility needs are invited to indicate these in the application form so that appropriate arrangements can be made.
Registration
To apply for the Summer School, click below to fill out the online form. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.
Deadline
30 June 2026, 17:00 CET
Contact Us
For all questions about the Summer School, please contact:
Marie Chapot, CFJ-EN Advocacy & Project Officer, marie.chapot@cfjnetwork.eu