Project Launch! 5-SCALE: Securing Children’s Access to Justice and Remedies through Local Empowerment in 5 Countries
Author: The Institute for Inspiring Children’s Futures, University of Strathclyde
Children make up nearly 30% of the world’s population, yet they remain largely invisible in global justice efforts. As momentum grows towards a new global justice agenda, children must be at the heart of the people-centred justice movement.
Securing Children’s Access to Justice and Remedies through Local Empowerment in 5 Countries (5-SCALE) is a grassroots-led initiative which spans five countries across four continents, bringing together local organisations and international partners to make child-centred justice a reality.
5-SCALE amplifies the views and experiences of children and young people by listening to their justice journeys, identifying what supports or hinders them to access justice and remedies, and incorporating insights that drive holistic reforms – from grassroots initiatives to global justice transformation. The project contributes to the delivery of the Global Working Group on SDG16+ Justice for Children, building upon the Global Declaration on Advancing Child-Centred Justice and the forthcoming General Comment No. 27 on children’s rights to access to justice and to an effective remedy.
Our Partners
This collaborative project is being led and coordinated by the Institute for Inspiring Children’s Futures at the University of Strathclyde. It is funded by the Legal Empowerment Fund, a programme hosted at the Fund for Global Human Rights.
Each national partner is working with children facing specific justice challenges:
-
In Colombia – children and restorative justice programmes, led by Laboratorio de ideas, diálogo y acciones para la paz (IDALAP).
-
In Greece – children in migration in contact with asylum proceedings, led by Defence for Children International Greece.
-
In the Philippines – children affected by human trafficking, sexual abuse and exploitation, led by Child Rights Coalition Asia, in partnership with Katilingban sa Kalambuan.
-
In Sierra Leone – girls and boys in conflict with the law, with a focus on formal and traditional justice, and a spotlight on girls’ experiences, led by Defence for Children International Sierra Leone.
-
In South Africa – children in conflict with the law in detention, led by The Centre for Child Law, University of Pretoria, in partnership with the South African Human Rights Commission.
The project is also supported by experts at The Childhood & Youth Studies Group, University of Edinburgh and Justice CoLab.
What the Project Will Do
Each grassroots partner will work with specific groups of children and young people to explore what justice means to them, their lived experiences of justice, and barriers and enablers to accessing justice and remedies.
Together, we’ll co-design research and advocacy that reflects children and young people’s realities and aspirations, as we seek to:
-
Build an understanding of children’s justice journeys, identifying barriers and enablers
-
Empower children as changemakers
-
Disseminate findings to influence local, national and international reforms
-
Develop child-friendly resources
-
Share learning and foster South-to-South partnerships.
Hear from the Project Partners
“Children know what justice feels like, and what it doesn’t. This project is about better understanding the justice journeys of children and young people, recognising the incredible and innovative work of our partners who support them every day. It’s also about making sure that those who share their experiences feel that doing so meaningfully informs our path ahead to real change – locally, nationally, and globally. Equally as important is our commitment to building and strengthening South-to-South partnerships, sharing learning and innovation across, and far beyond, the countries and communities directly involved in 5-SCALE.”
— Professor Jennifer Davidson, Executive Director, IICF.
“The Legal Empowerment Fund is proud to support this initiative, which strengthens meaningful access to justice for children by centring community voices and experiences in shaping solutions that work for them.”
— The Legal Empowerment Fund.
“At IDALAP, we believe children’s voices are not just data – they are the foundations for transforming justice systems into places of empathy and inclusion.”
— Antonio Varón Mejía, Co-Director, IDALAP
“In DCI-Greece all we wish is to become a lighthouse – a place where children are reminded of their value, dignity, and incredible potential. Experience has shown us that only through a trauma-informed approach grounded in trust, consistency, and high-level expertise can true empowerment begin. Through legal empowerment and socio-legal support, we help displaced children and youth reclaim their rights, voice, and agency. Our aim is to offer a safe space where they can lay down their trauma, express their needs, and rebuild their future dreams.”
— Nantina Tsekeri, Founding Director, DCI-Greece
Watch This Space!
We’ll be sharing updates, insights, and stories from our partners and the children and young people they work with.
Be sure to follow along on Bluesky, LinkedIn, and our new project page!
Comments are closed
Comments to this thread have been closed by the post author or by an administrator.