FOSTER: Fostering Child-Friendly Legal Environments through Collaborative Networks

ABOUT THE PROJECT

FOSTER is a transnational project in the area of victims’ rights, focusing specifically on children as victims.

It’s important to recognise that child victims of crime require special consideration and protection due to their vulnerability. Studies show that justice systems often cause them additional harm because they are not adapted to their rights and needs.

Professionals, including lawyers, often lack specialised training in dealing with cases involving child victims. It is imperative that all children are treated with dignity and respect and in a child-friendly manner. It is also important to ensure they are informed about their rights and how to seek redress.

The project aims to ensure the support and protection of child victims by fostering cooperation between national authorities and relevant stakeholders. The project’s objectives include creating a legal environment that guarantees appropriate care for child victims. This will be achieved by training 640 lawyers in victim-sensitive communication and developing practical guides for legal professionals. Additionally, the project seeks to establish strong cooperation networks among legal practitioners, authorities, and stakeholders, providing tools to sustain these partnerships. Ultimately, it strives to promote a comprehensive, child-friendly justice system that upholds the rights and well-being of child victims.

Project Type: JUST Lump Sum Grants

Project duration: 1. 6. 2024 – 31. 5. 2026

WORK PACKAGES

The project is divided into five work packages:

project management and coordination,
evidence-based training needs assessment and development of focused training material,
interdisciplinary Capacity Building for Lawyers,
enhancing a child-friendly ecosystem through multidisciplinary collaboration networks,
communication and dissemination.

PROJECT PARTNERS

Coordinating institution of the project is Centre for European Constitutional Law (Greece).

Partners:

Society of Social Psychiatry P. Sakellaropoulos (Greece),
Center for the Study of Democracy (Bulgaria),
The Centre for Social Sciences (Hungary) and
Institute of Criminology at the Faculty of Law (Slovenia).

FINANCING

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Justice programme (JUST) under Grant Agreement No. 101160568.

DOCUMENTS

Training Needs Assessment Report: Between September and December 2024, project partners in Bulgaria, Slovenia, Hungary and Greece conducted empirical research and literature reviews to assess the training needs of lawyers in the field of child-friendly justice and representation of child victims of crime. The research included an extensive review of national and international legal frameworks, tools and practices, as well as interviews and focus groups with 102 stakeholders — including lawyers, judges, law enforcement officials and child protection experts. The assessment, prepared for Greece, Bulgaria, Hungary and Slovenia, outlines current legal practices related to child victims and their rights, and identifies key areas where lawyers need additional training to effectively represent child victims of crime.

The full report is available here.