CFJ-EN ANNUAL SEMINAR 2024
Climate (In)justice:
How Climate Change Affects Children’s Access to Justice
10-11 OCTOBER 2024 | BRUSSELS | IN PERSON
Registrations closed! We're fully booked!
About
As we confront the intertwined crises of climate change, economic instability, and geopolitical turmoil, the vulnerable situations in which children find themselves in are ever more evident. This year, the 3rd CFJ-EN Annual Seminar, organised in partnership with Terre des hommes Foundation (Tdh) and CICS.NOVA, and the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) will explore how climate change places structural pressures on justice systems which should be designed to respect the rights of children. Specifically, it will look at how strategic climate litigation and enforcing children’s right to freedom of association and peaceful assembly can help guarantee their access to justice within the context of the climate crisis.
By bringing together academia, practitioners, and policymakers, we will foster dialogue and exchange knowledge on transforming justice systems to better meet the needs and rights of children. This event sets the stage for the upcoming World Congress on Justice with Children in June 2025 and builds on key recommendations from Terre des Hommes’ 2023 report, "Climate In-justice for Children: How climate crisis affects access to justice and children’s rights."
Join us as we look towards a just future where all children can thrive despite the challenges of our changing world.
Speakers
Keynote Speakers
Elisa Morgera
UN Special Rapporteur on Climate Change and Human Rights
Oskar Bonte
Young climate activist, Belgium
Gábor Kiss
Young climate activist, Hungary
Ioana Mihăilescu
Young climate activist, Romania
Martim Agostinho
Young climate activist, Portugal
Cláudia Duarte
Young climate activist, Portugal
Benjamin Van Bunderen Robberechts
Young climate activist, Belgium
Speakers and Panellists
Aoife Daly
Professor of Law, University College Cork
Els Dumortier
Professor of Youth Criminology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Regína Jensdóttir
Head of Children's Rights Division, Council of Europe
Maria João Leote de Carvalho
Researcher, FCSH CICS-Nova, Portugal
Ayşegül Şükran Öz
Project Officer, Validity Foundation, Hungary
Emilio Puccio
Secretary General of the European Parliament Intergroup on Children's Rights
Marie-Cécile Rouillon
European Commission Coordinator for the Rights of the Child
Ann Skelton (video message)
Chair, United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child
Benoît Van Keirsbilck
President, Child Friendly Justice European Network and Member of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, Belgium
Kata Dózsa
Senior Associate Researcher and Adjunct Professor, Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Marta Gil
Deputy Head Justice Programmes, Terre des hommes Foundation, Switzerland
Michaela Krömer
Climate Lawyer
Gerry Liston
Climate Lawyer, Global Legal Action Network
Astrid Podsiadlowski
Project Manager on Rights of the Child, European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights
Olivia Rope
Director, Penal Reform International, Belgium
Sophie Shields
Policy and Impact Specialist, The Institute for Inspiring Children's Futures at the University of Strathclyde, Scotland
Nantina Tsekeri
Vice-President CFJ-EN, Greece
Caroline Vrijens
Flemish Commissioner for Children's Rights
Moderators
Marine Braun
Child Rights Expert, Portugal
Mariama Diallo
Coordinator, Child Friendly Justice - European Network, Belgium
Judit Geller
Senior Legal Officer, PILnet
Sabrina Cajoly
International human rights lawyer and child rights expert
Cédric Foussard
Global Advisor on Justice with Children, Terre des hommes Foundation, Switzerland
Angela Vigil
Pro Bono Partner and Executive Director of Global Pro Bono, Baker & McKenzie LLP
1/ Impact Litigation and Children's Access to Justice
How can strategic litigation be employed as a tool to ensure access to justice for children whose environmental rights have been violated?
How do we ensure access to justice and child-friendly legal assistance for children, especially those who are displaced or migrate due to environmental issues?
2 / Children's Rights to Free Assembly
What can we do to ensure children are free to meet, campaign and protest on climate-related topics, without fear of legal reprisals?
In what way are states obligated to create an enabling environment for children acting as human rights defenders in environmental cases?
3 / Climate Change and Child Justice Systems
What type of data exist on the impact of environmental issues on law enforcement for children? What existing data can we collect from child justice systems?
What are the current challenges and responses to the impact of climate change on child justice systems, and how can we implement child-friendly standards?
What is the impact of climate change on children deprived of liberty, including in criminal and administrative settings? To what extent are non-custodial measures for children envisaged in an adverse climate?
How can public, private and third-sector organisations help child justice systems better address climate change issues in legal proceedings involving children?
4 / Climate Change and Crimes committed by and affecting Children
Does climate change impact child-related crimes? What adaptations are necessary in justice systems to address these changes?
To what extent does climate change constitute a structural driver of violence against children and criminal activity among young people?
What are effective ways in which children can participate in decision-making processes to inform crime prevention strategies, in the context of social and urban changes generated by environmental degradation and climate change?
Currently, how are legal systems respecting and addressing the diversity of children affected by climate change? Are they applying principles of non-discrimination? Do current approaches address the needs of all children, or just certain groups?
Wednesday 9 October, 2024
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM (Optional)
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Screening of "Planet B" at Cinéma Aventure followed by a chat with director Pieter Van Eecke and the film's two young protagonists.
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Address: Rue des Fripiers 15, 1000 Brussels
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Tickets: 10€ (full), 8.75€ (concessions)
Thursday 10 October, 2024
9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
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Opening Plenary
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Keynote Speech
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Thematic Plenary Sessions
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Parallel Workshop Sessions
7:00 PM - 11:00 PM (Optional)
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Networking Dinner
Friday 11 October, 2024
9:00 AM - 13:00 PM
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Thematic Plenary Sessions
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Parallel Workshop Sessions
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Closing Plenary
Location
Conference
U-Residence
VUB Main Campus Etterbeek
Blvd Géneral Jacques 271, 1050 Ixelles
Brussels
Networking Dinner
Baker McKenzie Brussels
Manhattan building (22nd floor)
Avenue du Boulevard 21
1210 Brussels
Film Screening & Debate
Cinéma Aventure
Rue des Fripiers 15
Galerie du Centre 57 Bloc II
1000 Brussels
Tel : +32 (0)2 219 92 02
Registration Costs
Registrations closed! We're fully booked!
Tickets
The cost of the conference is €80. Registrations are open until 10th September 2024. Ensure your spot at the conference by registering early!*
Networking Dinner
An optional networking dinner will be held on Thursday 10 October, for an additional €30. Places are limited so be sure to get in early!*
Free for CFJ-EN Members
Each CFJ-EN member organisation is entitled to one free ticket to the annual seminar, including the networking dinner. Additional representatives will have to pay. If you are a member, please look out for a "special invitation" email which will include your discount code.
Support a Young Participant
Consider supporting a young person’s participation at our conference. Your contribution of €30 will help enable a young person with experience of the justice system to attend this event.*
*Please note: Eventbrite will add a 4% handling fee to the cost of your ticket.
Workshops
We have a series of workshop sessions running in parallel across the two days of the seminar:
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Mainstreaming children's rights through environmental law and legal practice | Kata Dozsa | VUB, ENRICH project
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Youth Climate Justice: Children and Youth as Rights Leaders in the Climate Crisis | Aoife Daly, Florencia Paz Landeira, Nabin Maharjan | YCJ Project, University College Cork
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Beyond the Margins: Integrating Climate Change into Justice Responses for Children in Conflict with the Law | Donna McEwan, Fiona Dyer | Centre for Youth & Criminal Justice (CYCJ) University of Strathclyde
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Empowering Children and Young People through Children's Rights and Climate Education: The Inclusive Best Practice of a Youth-Led Organisation in Hungary | Fanni Mátyók | WellBee
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Empowering Young Voices: Advancing Child Justice in the Climate Crisis | Giulia Patane, Angela Vigil, Judit Geller, Cedric Foussard, Fiona Dyers | PILnet
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Once upon a time… Environmental restorative justice through storytelling | Marianna Dimou, Olga Ziori
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Children's Rights to Access Justice in Climate Change Litigations: Procedural Issues | Clara Pastorino, Laura Carpaneto, Francesca Maoli | University of Genoa
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Children and Young People Talk Climate Justice | invitation only | with the support of UNICEF Belgium
Registration and Participation
Registration for the annual seminar is mandatory, and closes on 10 September 2024. You will not be able to participate if you do not register by this date.
Places are limited and will be allocated on a first come first served basis.
This is an in-person event, and hybrid participation will therefore NOT be possible.
Please note that we are unable to provide visa sponsorship for participants travelling from outside the EU.
Media Kit
We've compiled a media package with photos, graphics and pre-written social media posts to help spread the word about our annual seminar. You can download the media kit here.
Funding
The Annual Seminar is co-funded by the European Union.
Contact
If you encounter any issues during registration or need further information, please do not hesitate to contact us. Our team is here to help you with any questions or concerns you might have.
Mariama Diallo - Coordinator
Teresa Schepis - Assistant Coordinator
Organisers
The CFJ-EN Annual Seminar is
co-funded by the European Union
Book your ticket
Join us as we look towards a just future where all children can thrive despite the challenges of climate change.