My Lawyer, My Rights

My lawyer, my rights

Enhancing children's rights in criminal proceedings

My Lawyer, My Rights | | Movimento Globale per i Diritti dell’Infanzia

My Lawyer, My Rights
Summary

The right to access (free) legal counsel and representation throughout criminal judicial proceedings is essential to enable children to effectively enjoy and exercise their rights. A good defence plays a major role in the measures taken by the judge and the child’s ability to reintegrate and rehabilitate after the criminal justice proceedings. All the way through a proceeding, the child needs to know how and when to contact the lawyer, what to expect, what to do if this service is not satisfactory, etc.

But even though the right to legal representation for child suspects is recognized, it is unevenly applied by States. Measures taken at the national level are insufficient and the access to a lawyer for children remains a challenge in most European countries.

 

 

Project Duration

September 2016 - September 2018

 
Objectives
  • Support Member States and advocate for the proper application of the EU Directive on the right of access to a lawyer in the field of juvenile justice, through practical tools and recommendations (including the principles of the Child Friendly Justice Guidelines).
  • Assist Member States in establishing national structures specialised in child legal aid in compliance with the EU Directive, the CRC, the CFJ Guidelines, etc.
  • Define the role, basic training required of children’s lawyers and the conditions for an effective right to defence.
  • Provide information and tools to Member States on the practical implementation of the Directive in juvenile justice systems and on existing best practices in the other Member States.
  • Provide Youth Lawyers with information and practical tools to better exercise their role and empower them (through awareness-raising sessions in addition to the produced material) to become agents of change.

 

Link to resources
 
Activities
  • Project launch seminar on October 19 and 20, 2016 in Brussels
  • Creation of an online platform of documentation and resources
  • Mapping and analysis report on juvenile legal aid systems in 15 European countries
  • Handbook addressed to policy makers and institutional actors
  • Handbook addressed to juvenile lawyers
  • Informational video
  • Advocacy, consultation and information meetings with key actors in each country
  • National seminar at the Department of Juvenile and Community Justice
  • Dissemination events at the European level
 
Partnership and collaborations

Defence for Children International - Belgium

Defence for Children international Italia

Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights - Poland

Bulgarian Helsinki Committee

DCI-ECPAT the Netherlands

Child Law Clinic - Ireland

Child Circle - Belgium

European Criminal Bar Association (ECBA)

In Italy the project was implemented in connection with the Department for Juvenile Justice and Community of the Minister of Justice
 

Contact Us

Defence for Children International - Italia

Sede legale e sociale: Piazza Don Andrea Gallo 5-6-7 R - 16124 Genova 
Sede operativa: Via Bellucci 4-6 - 16124 Genova

 

Tel.010 0899050 Fax 010 0899051
Codice Fiscale 97457060586

Genova Via Bellucci 4-6 mappa
Defence for Children international Italia
Sede legale: Via Liberiana 17 - 00185 Roma (RM)
Sede operativa e amministrativa: Via Bellucci 4-6, 16124 Genova
010 0899050