ACCESS Project

Between September 2024 and August 2026, FORUM together with partners implements  the two-year-long ACCESS project (Access to Justice for Children Accused and Suspect in  Criminal Proceedings). The project seeks to foster EU-wide effective and non-discriminatory  access to justice for children in criminal proceedings, and respect for children’s procedural  rights amongst legal and other justice professionals. By identifying gaps in children’s access  to procedural rights through peer-exchange among justice professionals, the consortium of  partners will foster effective application of the Directive 2016/800 of the European Parliament  and of the Council of 11 May 2016 on procedural safeguards for children who are suspects or  accused persons in criminal proceedings.  

The project partners are: 

The project’s main objective is to facilitate effective and non-discriminatory access to  justice for children suspect and accused in criminal proceedings in the target  countries by: 

  1. exchanging good practices and increasing knowledge and practical expertise of  Directive 2016/800, in light of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child principles,  among lawyers, judges, prosecutors, law enforcement personnel, experts  from civil society organisations, social workers, and probation officers from  the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Poland, Belgium, and the Netherlands; 
  2. enhancing mutual learning and trans-professional cooperation among competent  national authorities, NHRIs, equality bodies and legal and other professionals in the  six target EU countries. 

The project’s final beneficiaries are children in conflict with the law, including potentially  vulnerable or marginalized groups, such as children with disabilities, children belonging to  minority groups, such as Roma children or children in migration, children facing poverty, and  transgender children. 

The main activities include: 

  • an in-person exchange roundtable among lawyers, judges, prosecutors, social  workers, probation officers, law enforcement personnel, and practitioners from civil  society organisations; 
  • four online exchange workshops for 1) lawyers, 2) judges, 3) prosecutors, and 4) social  workers and probation officers from the six EU Member States covered by the project;
  • national seminars organized in each of the project countries; 
  • the publication of a Compendium of good practices for practitioners;
  • the publication of a FAQ for children, youth and parents on procedural rights of children  in conflict with the law. 

Full name of the project: Access to Justice for Children Accused and Suspect in Criminal Proceedings JUST-2023-JACC-EJUSTICE 

This project is co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are, however, those of  the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European  Commission. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.