On 24 June 2025, the Children’s Rights Division of the Council of Europe together with representatives from Belgium, Poland and Slovenia presented new Child-Friendly Justice Assessment Tool during a meeting of the Working Party on Fundamental Rights, Citizens’ Rights and Free Movement of Persons, held in Brussels under the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

The meeting also featured the participation of the European Commission, including Ms Ingrid Bellander-Todino, Head of Unit for Fundamental Rights Policy at the Directorate-General for Justice and Consumers, reflecting the strong commitment of the European Commission to advancing child-friendly justice across Europe.

Developed within the framework of the Joint European Union – Council of Europe Project on Child-friendly Justice (CFJ Project), the Child-friendly Justice Assessment Tool is designed to support member states in evaluating and strengthening their justice systems to ensure they are truly child-friendly. It provides key indicators to assess national legislation, institutions and practices in line with the Council of Europe Guidelines on Child-friendly Justice.

Following a practical demonstration of the Assessment Tool, representatives from the project’s focus countries – Belgium, Poland and Slovenia – shared key findings of their country self-assessments conducted as part of the CFJ Project. The exchange fostered mutual learning and highlighted the value of practical tools in advancing child-friendly justice across Europe.

The Assessment Tool is intended to serve as a reference for national authorities and professionals working with and for children in contact with the law, supporting efforts to identify strengths, address gaps and monitor progress over time. It contributes to wider European initiatives to ensure that children’s rights are upheld in all proceedings that affect them, regardless of their role or situation.

Currently available in English, the Assessment Tool is being translated into French, Dutch, Polish and Slovenian, and will be officially launched in the second half of 2025.

Brussels24 June 2025

https://www.coe.int/en/web/children/-/new-child-friendly-justice-assessment-tool-and-self-assessments-presented-in-brussels