CFJ-EN Annual Seminar 2026

The Child Friendly Justice European Network (CFJ-EN), together with its partners the Children and Young People's Centre for Justice (CYCJ) and the Institute for Inspiring Children's Futures (IICF), warmly invites you to its annual two-day conference in Brussels: The Value of Investing in Child-Centred Justice. At a time when Europe is seeing a troubling return to punitive approaches towards children, and public budgets are under mounting pressure, this seminar sets out the strategic case that child-centred justice, far from being an optional expense, constitutes a vital, long-term investment in the wellbeing of our communities.

What You Will Gain:

• The big picture: Move beyond siloed approaches to understand the full ecosystem of justice, health, and education required to prevent crises before they occur.
• Practical advocacy tools: Equip yourself with economic arguments and evidence to influence policymakers and budget-holders, even in a challenging financial climate.
• The McTaggart approach: Learn a powerful framework to articulate the value of prevention, diversion, and early intervention using "The Individual Story," "Societal Drivers," and "The Money Perspective."
• Experiential learning: Participate in the unique Youth Experiential Learning Simulation (YExLS) to experience the justice system through the eyes of a child.
• Cross-sector collaboration: Connect with 100+ practitioners, policymakers, and funders committed to shifting mindsets toward holistic justice that respects children's rights.

Who Should Attend:

Practitioners, policymakers, budget-holders, funders, researchers, and advocates working in child justice, child protection, and social services.

Key Details:

• Dates: 29 & 30 October 2026
• Location: Brussels, Belgium.
• Venues: Maison des Associations Internationales, Rue Washington, 40 (Annual Seminar); Comet Meetings – Louise, Pl. Stéphanie 20 (Networking Dinner)
• Format: In-person
• Language: English

For more info, visit the Annual Seminar's page on our website : cfjnetwork.eu/annual-seminars/cfj-en-annual-seminar-2026

CFJ-EN General Assembly

On Wednesday 28th October, the day before the CFJ-EN Annual Seminar, we will be holding our annual General Assembly, also in Brussels. This is open only to members of CFJ-EN, and is free of charge. Please indicate on the booking form whether you intend to come to the General Assembly. 

The event is co-funded by the European Union.