Two IBCR Board members to attend the “Justice With Children” World Congress

25 August 2021

The World Congress on Justice With Children is a space for awareness raising and mobilisation on issues of justice with children around the world. Théophane Nikyèma, Chair of the IBCR Board of Directors, member of the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child and Special Rapporteur on Children in Conflict with the Law, as well as Luis Pedernera, IBCR Board Director and Chair of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (2017-2021) will be present at the Congress as a member of the Scientific Committee and Chair of the Scientific Committee respectively. 

It is in 2019, on the 30th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, that the “Justice With Children” initiative was created through a collaboration of various international organisations. 

Its objectives are to:  

Theophane Nikyema CA

Theophane Nikyema, Director of the IBCR Board

luis pedernera

Luis Pedernera, Administrator of the IBCR Board of Directors

  • make children’s rights effective worldwide. 
  • promote access to justice and participation of children in formal, and informal justice systems. 
  • improve the connection between justice for children and child protection systems. 
  • promote non-custodial measures worldwide and reduce the use of deprivation of liberty. 
  • exchange practice-oriented strategies to reduce and prevent juvenile crime and propose effective responses to recidivism. 

 A world congress has therefore been organised every year to exchange best practices and possibilities for action. This year, the congress will take place online from 20 to 25 November and will focus on the theme “Ensuring access to justice for all children: towards non-discriminatory and inclusive child justice systems”.   

Over a period of three days, there will be working groups, trainings, workshops and debates.  

In order to encourage actions and decision making after the congress, the initiative has set up a scientific committee, composed of several experts and professionals in the field of children’s rights, that will guide the strategies for training, research, advocacy or capacity building that will emerge from the exchanges at the congress.   

Théophane Nikyèma, Chair of the IBCR Board of Directors, member of the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child and Special Rapporteur on Children in Conflict with the Law, as well as Luis Pedernera, IBCR Board Director and Chair of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (2017-2021) will take part in the Congress as member of the Scientific Committee and Chair of the Scientific Committee respectively. 

The Congress takes on its full importance through its international dimension. The exchanges and discussions initiated by the experts present will lead to recommendations and good practices that will be shared on a large scale. This will have a positive impact on children who are or will be in contact with the justice system.

 The IBCR has worked alongside organisations in the Justice With Children initiative on several occasions. This includes last year’s creation of guidelines and procedures to speed up the release of children detained during the COVID 19 health crisis , as well as participating in the preparatory sessions for this year’s congress. 

To find out more about the conference or to register for a session