The face of injustice is too often the face of a child.

A child in conflict with the law, a child who is a victim or witness of crime, a child whose vulnerability has not been adequately protected. It is a face that calls for dignity, protection, and opportunity-not stigma or exclusion.

UNICEF welcomes the strong leadership demonstrated by multiple ministries coming together around this Strategy. Justice for children cannot be addressed in isolation.

It requires a coordinated and sustained effort across law enforcement, justice, social protection, education, employment, and care sectors. Breaking silos is not just desirable-it is essential if we are to respond effectively to the complex realities children face.

We are particularly encouraged to see how this Strategy aligns with and reinforces other key national frameworks: the Agenda for Child Rights, the Anti-Trafficking Action Plan, the Social Care Strategy, and broader justice reforms. This convergence reflects a clear vision of a whole-of-government approach, where children are placed at the center of policy and service delivery.

UNICEF stands firmly alongside the Government in the rollout and implementation of this Strategy. We see this moment not only as a policy milestone but as a real opportunity to accelerate progress toward full alignment with EU and UN standards on child rights and child-friendly justice systems. A child who receives adequate treatment by the justice system and obtains the legal remedies they need will likely be an Albanian EU citizen who believes in the rule of law, not only abides by laws but also actively contributes to law, order, and peace in society.

Every child in contact with the justice system, whether as a victim, witness, or in conflict with the law, must first and foremost be seen as a child. Many of these children carry histories of neglect, violence, or exclusion. This is why a holistic, child-centered, and trauma-informed approach is essential.

To translate this vision into real change, investments must reach the local level-where services meet children and families. Adequate human and financial resources, combined with strong coordination, will be key to ensuring that no child is left behind.

In this context, UNICEF is aligning its support around three key priorities:

• First, advance the Child Guarantee to ensure that every child has access to essential services, including health, education, social protection, and justice.
• Second, supporting the Youth Guarantee to empower young people through meaningful pathways from learning to earning, strengthening resilience and inclusion.
• Third, accelerating progress on the full realization of children’s rights, as enshrined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

The development of this Strategy sends a strong message: that justice systems must serve children, protect them, and help them thrive. As important as the contents of the Strategy will be, it is also crucial that it be the product of wide consultations among a variety of public authorities, academia, CSOs, and the international community in Albania. This being a Strategy for children, it also needs to reflect what boys and girls think about it, particularly those who have had experience with the justice system in the past.

Together, we have the responsibility to turn this shared vision into reality- so that every child, regardless of their circumstances, is treated with fairness, compassion, and respect.