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The project aims to improve the accessibility and integration of child protection systems in criminal proceedings for children, particularly children with intellectual and/or psychosocial disabilities.

National Briefing Reports

National Briefing Reports – Easy-to-Read

LINKING INFORMATION FOR ADAPTIVE AND ACCESSIBLE CHILD-FRIENDLY COURTS

101097047 – LINK

Children with intellectual and psychosocial disabilities face significant barriers in the criminal justice process, including physical inaccessibility, communication challenges, and limited access to protection measures, legal aid, and representation. These obstacles stem from legislative gaps, a lack of trained professionals, and inaccessible infrastructure. 

The project aims to improve the accessibility and integration of child protection systems in criminal proceedings, ensuring disability, age-, and gender-appropriate decision-making to protect and support child victims.  

The two-year project is implemented between 2023 June and 2025 May in 7 EU countries: Bulgaria, Czechia, Lithuania, Portugal, Slovenia, Italy and Hungary. The project consortium includes:  

“No judge is willing to be interviewed, which is a reasonable position considering that judges have no practical experience in handling cases involving this category of victims.”

Representative of a Bulgarian Court

Key Objectives

  • Building the capacity of criminal justice professionals to ensure non-discrimination of child victims with disabilities. 
  • Enhancing the integration of child protection systems within criminal proceedings to provide better support and safeguards. 

Project Activities

  • Mapping Needs and Recommendations 
  • Using participatory and action-research methods, we identify the information, support, and protection needs of children with disabilities. This comprehensive analysis helps pinpoint key requirements for accessibility, cooperation, and efficiency within the criminal justice system. 
  • Developing a Child-Friendly Digital Information System 
  • We design a blueprint for an accessible technological system tailored to child victims, including AAC users. This system enhances existing filing and case management tools, empowering children with disabilities to actively participate in criminal proceedings. 
  • Capacity-Building for Criminal Justice Professionals  
  • In collaboration with justice professionals, civil society organizations, and children with disabilities, we deliver training sessions. These focus on age- and gender-appropriate accommodations, ensuring that the justice system meets the unique needs of child victims. 
  • Community Engagement 
  • We organize national children’s advisory boards, roundtables, and international conferences to share findings and best practices. This fosters wider involvement from all stakeholders. 

“We didn’t have any specific training on how to interview a child, a child! Not even talking about disabilities.”

Public prosecutor, female

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Our Approach

Key Strategies 

  • Building Professional Capacity through training guides and a Model Multidisciplinary Cooperation System to equip justice and child protection professionals with the skills to support child victims effectively. These are piloted in six EU countries and integrated into legal training and policies. 
  • Child Participation & Rights-Based Approach aligned with UNCRPD and UNCRC, we actively involve children with disabilities in shaping justice processes. This includes developing child-friendly materials, ethical guidelines, and direct engagement in working groups, trainings, and events. 
  • Victim-Centered Justice prioritising victim needs and choices, enhancing trust, efficiency, and access to justice, while reducing barriers. 
  • Research & Innovation using action-research and interdisciplinary collaboration to identify challenges, implement solutions, and integrate digital tools for accessibility. 

Sustainable Change through ongoing training, policy integration, and public awareness efforts. 

Research Methodology

Our action-research methodologywas co-designed with strong ethical guidelines and child safeguards. The aim was to understand the experience of children with and without intellectual and psychosocial disabilities, and relevant professionals. 

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Research Process 

10-12 semi-structured interviews per country 

The results of this research were presented as National Briefing Papers below in English and in project languages, supported by ETR (Easy to Read) versions. 

  • Minimum 3 interviews with child victims who experienced criminal proceedings 
  • Inclusive representation of different genders 
  • At least one child participant with intellectual or psychosocial disability 
  • Additional interviews with: 
    • Criminal justice professionals 
    • Civil servants 
    • Social workers 
    • Victim support workers 
    • Civil society organizations

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Full Name of the Project

Linking Information for Adaptive and Accessible Child-Friendly Courts (CERV-2022-DAPHNE).

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.