The promotion and protection of the rights of the child is one of the objectives of the EU on which the Treaty of Lisbon has put further emphasis. This report is part of a study 'to collect data on children's involvement in judicial proceedings in the EU' which supports the implementation of the...

The promotion and protection of the rights of the child is one of the objectives of the EU on which the Treaty of Lisbon has put further emphasis. This report is part of a study 'to collect data on children's involvement in judicial proceedings in the EU' which supports the implementation of the...

Most of the institutions, rules and practices relating to children as victims or witnesses are not specifically aimed at children but rather affect children similarly to any other vulnerable victim or witness. By contrast, children involved in the criminal justice system as defendants are...

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland a broad legal and policy framework is in place for the protection of child victims, witnesses and suspects, either with a child specific focus or through measures applicable also to adults.1 With respect to child suspects, the age of criminal responsibility...

Sweden has several specialised laws that apply to children and young offenders and there are guidelines for authorities and professionals who deal with children, such as social services, the police and judiciary. Training is also available for those professionals who deal with children in...

The Spanish judiciary system is governed by the General Council of the Judiciary (Consejo General del Poder Judicial). The Spanish Court system is hierarchical, with a system of jurisdictional appeals. While no extraordinary legal system exists in Spain, special Courts have been set up by virtue...

The Slovenian criminal justice system has several elements of child-friendly justice though the greatest specificities are to be found with respect to child suspects and defendants. In this area, the criminal justice system for children is parallel to the general justice system: cases involving...

The most striking feature of the Slovak approach to children's involvement in criminal proceedings is that they are not dealt with separately but rather fall within the formal criminal justice system. They are primarily legislated for through the Criminal Code and the Criminal Procedure Code....

Romania has created a specific legal framework for children involved in the criminal justice system (whether offenders or victims) that is more permissive than the adult system and adapted to children's needs. The framework falls under the Romanian Criminal Proceedings Code that governs the...

The Portuguese legal system seeks to protect the child in danger, whether the child is a victim of crime or the child is under 12 years old and has committed a crime, provided that they were considered to be in danger. A child under the age of 12 who has committed an offence is deemed to be...