Workshop on Crimes Against and Affecting Children

In April 2024, Global Rights Compliance (GRC) conducted a series of workshops with Ukrainian prosecutors and investigators as well as with civil society organisations to discuss child-friendly justice and accountability for conflict-related crimes against and affecting children in Ukraine, as part of GRC and the T.M.C Asser Institute’s MATRA-Ukraine project.  

Tailored to the Ukrainian context, the workshops combined roundtable-discussions with specialised training, bringing together Ukrainian actors and international experts. The programme included dialogues and discussions on the current practice in Ukraine as well as expert presentations on the relevant international law framework; building international crimes cases (particularly regarding crimes against and affecting children) from a child-sensitive perspective; trauma-informed approaches to engaging with child victims and witnesses; and child-friendly interviewing practices and techniques. 

The workshops aimed to 

• provide targeted education and skill development, to enhance the capabilities of the participating prosecutors, investigators and civil society representatives who are involved in addressing conflict-related crimes against and affecting children;  

• facilitate dialogue and information exchange regarding current practices in Ukraine and international practice; and  

• promote child-friendly, trauma-informed and victim-centred best practices.