EU: Gaps and good practices in safeguarding children’s rights in criminal proceedings

Jun 22, 2026 | Advocacy, Publications

Children who come into contact with the criminal justice system as suspects or accused persons continue to face serious gaps in the protection of their rights, despite international and EU law and standards. A new publication Safeguarding the rights of child suspects and accused in criminal proceedings: Compendium of Good practices by the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) examines these challenges in six countries — Belgium, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Poland and Slovakia — identifying both persistent shortcomings and promising practices.