range of viewpoints helped shape the competency grid, ensuring that it was both comprehensive and relevant. These meetings led to the creation of a report on core
child rights competencies for justice personnel, which was published in 2018.
“Magistrates are leaders who oversee all judicial procedures involving children. In order to achieve child-friendly justice, we must develop the skills of these magistrates, identify best practices applicable to their profession, and appeal to their sense of personal responsibility and dedication.” - Philip Jaffé, Director, Interfaculty Centre for the Rights of the Child at the University of Geneva and member of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child (2018)
CORE COMPETENCIES FOR JUSTICE PERSONNEL
1|
Interacting and communicating with children in an appropriate manner
2 | Adapting procedures to the child’s specific needs, level of development and circumstances
3 | Interpreting the rules of law through the use of national, regional and international case law and legal instruments relating to children
CORE CHILD-RIGHTS COMPETENCIES FOR JUDGES AND PROSECUTORS An initiative aimed at promoting child-friendly justice
4 | Taking action to effectively promote and protect the rights of the child
5 | Optimising cooperation with formal and informal actors in the juvenile justice and child protection systems
6 | Acting ethically and complying with judicial conduct principles relating to children
PERSONNEL WORKING WITH CHILDREN DEPRIVED OF LIBERTY Building on its experience developing core competencies for security forces, justice, social services sectors, the IBCR began a fourth work phase in 2020. This new initiative aimed to reflect on and formally establish core competencies for personnel working with children deprived of liberty. 70 individuals working in this sector and in child protection were invited to participate in a consultative
process to determine the core competencies required in their occupations. The process involved a unique hybrid delivery model, with a series of online consultations with representatives from some 30 countries as well as an in-person workshop in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, attended by specialists from eight French-speaking African countries (Burkina Faso, Senegal, Mali, Niger, Togo,
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