The Congress united over 7,000 participants from 160 countries, emphasizing preventive interventions and systemic reforms to protect children from violence within justice systems. It culminated in the adoption of the Declaration on Advancing Child-Centred Justice, a framework to promote children’s rights and well-being through inclusive, rights-based justice systems, aligning with SDG 16. The Declaration also calls for sustained political commitment, including the reactivation of a child-centred justice interagency panel.
In a rich programme that included interventions by GC Secretary General Manfred Nowak, Manu Krishan (GC HQ), and Youmna Makhlouf (GC Arab World), a notable highlight of the Congress discussions was the workshop “Redirecting Marginalized Youth in Crisis-Affected Societies: From Exclusion to Justice, Dignity, and Agency.”
Organised by Salzburg Global, the session was facilitated by Global Campus alumnus José-María Arraiza—an independent researcher and protection expert—together with experts and practitioners working on post-coup Myanmar and the Bangsamoro region in the Philippines. Speakers included, inter alia, Sha Elijah Dumama-Alba, Minister of Interior and Local Government of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of the Philippines; Jamalul Giducos, Legal Consultant for the Bangsamoro Transition Authority; Shanmugapriyah Thiyagarajah, programme development, quality and impact expert in international development and humanitarian sector; and Natasha Ryan, Child Protection Expert for UNICEF in Bangladesh.
The panel explored community-led, trauma-informed justice frameworks and identified lessons applicable to other contexts. Participants shared innovative ideas to enhance children’s access to justice in crisis-affected regions, while addressing the difficulties of functioning within complex war-impacted situations. The session highlighted efforts to improve legal empowerment and access to justice for youth in Myanmar and a Mindanao reintegration effort for former militants, tackling protection gaps for “emerging adults” and advocating for resilient systems that empower youth as rights-holders. The workshop also served as a valuable networking and connecting space, fostering collaboration among global child justice advocates.
Jose adds,
“It has been a real pleasure to reconnect with the Global Campus on Human Rights and with Professor Nowak. The Congress has been incredibly inspiring, both due to the depth of knowledge and commitment of the organisers and speakers and the quality and diversity of participants. Apart from this happy re-connection which brings me back to my European Master’s in Human Rights and Democratisation days back in Venice in 2001, I would highlight the simulation In My Shoes: A Youth Experiential Learning Simulation on marginalised youth’s access to justice organised by Baker McKenzie, Youth Law Center/Justice with Children. This was really experiential learning on how the system can fail children and youth and an eye opener.”
The Global Campus is proud to have co-organised this Congress, contributing to the establishment of a child-centred justice framework that prioritizes children as rights-holders, promoting accessible judicial and non-judicial mechanisms to address barriers such as violence, discrimination, and detention.
Learn more about the Global Campus’s initiatives and publications on the topic of children and justice.
GC Europe Alumnus José-María Arraiza at the 5th World Congress on Justice With Children in Madrid 2-4 June 2025