Child-Friendly Legal Services – Training Package
Strengthening the capacity of legal professionals to ensure justice systems are responsive to the rights and needs of every child
- English
- Polish
Highlights
Professional legal assistance plays a crucial role in the implementation and protection of children’s rights. Such assistance may be required in various proceedings, both judicial and administrative. It is essential in cases where children become victims or witnesses, as well as in situations where the responsibility of children in conflict with the law is being determined. Its importance cannot be overstated in cases involving children who, for various reasons, seek refuge in a country other than their own and may not be familiar with the legal framework, cultural context, or procedures in their host country.
In many countries, there is a lack of specialisation and professional training for lawyers to enable them to provide more effective assistance to children in matters that concern them.
Recognising the need to guide legal professionals in providing such assistance, in 2018 the UNICEF Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia developed a set of training materials. The UNICEF Refugee Response Office in Poland conducted a pilot training using these materials in 2025 and, based on participants’ feedback, adapted the materials to the Polish context and realities.
The “Guidelines on Child-Friendly Legal Aid” include 12 principles that professionals working with children should follow. These include, among others, acting in the best interests of the child, continuous capacity-building, child-friendly communication, and protection from discrimination. The Guidelines in English are available here.
Based on these guidelines, UNICEF developed a training module – the UNICEF training package on child-friendly legal services, which has been tested in several countries across the region. The module has been adapted to the Polish context and is available here: “Basic training on child-friendly legal services. Participant’s handbook”, and “Working with children on the move. Participant’s notes”.
For more information on activities related to child-friendly legal assistance, please contact Olga Trocha, Child Protection Specialist, UNICEF Refugee Response Office in Poland: [email protected].
