The Validity Foundation, in collaboration with APAV and FENACERCI, is excited to invite you to the LINK International Symposium, an hybrid one-day event dedicated to advancing child-friendly justice. This symposium brings together international experts, NGOs, DPOs, and EU authorities to foster meaningful discussions and drive actionable solutions for children with intellectual and psychosocial disabilities in the justice system. The event will showcase key achievements of Project LINK, launched in July 2023 and implemented across eight countries—France, Hungary, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Portugal, Lithuania, Bulgaria, and Italy. 

The project addresses the persistent barriers children face in accessing justice (click here to access research findings), particularly as victims or witnesses of crime, and promotes inclusive, accessible, and integrated child protection systems. The symposium will focus on innovative digital tools that enhance child-friendly communication and protection, capacity-building initiatives that equip professionals with the skills to support children with disabilities effectively, and multi-stakeholder collaboration to strengthen cooperation between justice and child protection systems. The symposium will also prioritise community engagement, emphasising national children’s advisory boards, roundtables, and international knowledge-sharing to guarantee widespread implementation of promising practices. 

 By uniting experts, policymakers, academics, and practitioners, this symposium aims to drive systemic change and create a justice system that truly protects and empowers every child. We invite you to be part of this crucial conversation, through which we hope to translate our efforts into actionable steps that will have a lasting impact on the lives of children with intellectual and psychosocial disabilities, ensuring they are recognised as equal citizens with the right to live independent, fulfilling lives. We advocate for inclusive educational environments where children with and without disabilities can learn, play, and grow together, building mutual support and understanding. 

Join us in shaping the future of child rights and justice in Europe and beyond. This event will provide participants with concrete pathways for advancing systemic change and inspire further joint initiatives for a better world for our youngest generation. 

Date: 15 April 2025.

Location: Hybrid, Olissippo Oriente Hotel, Av. Dom João II nº 32, 1990-092 Lisboa. The zoom link will be shared later.

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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.

This project is co-funded by the FIRAH as project LINKS (Multidisciplinary Assessment and Determination of Procedural Accommodations for Child Victims with Intellectual or Psychosocial Disabilities – APa2024_058).