Salzburg Global Fellow Cédric Foussard and Mariana Pérez Cruz explain why global alliances matter more than ever for child-centered justice
This op-ed was written by Salzburg Global Fellow Cédric Foussard and his colleague Mariana Pérez Cruz. Cédric participated in the Global Innovations on Youth Violence, Safety & Justice program on "Rethinking Youth Safety and Justice Systems: Supporting Youth, Reducing Violence, and Increasing Resilience" in December 2024.
In a world marked by rising conflicts and shrinking space for cooperation, the promise of multilateralism is fading fast. The decline of international partnerships doesn’t just affect diplomacy, it hits the most vulnerable the hardest. Among them are children, which encompasses “every human being below the age of 18 years unless, under the law applicable to the child, majority is attained earlier.” Children make up nearly a third of the world’s population, but despite this, they are consistently left behind.
With only five years remaining until 2030, the promise of the Sustainable Development Goals is moving further out of reach. Armed conflicts have not only stalled progress but also exacerbated inequalities, with children disproportionately affected and too often denied access to appropriate justice. In environmental matters, children are frequently prevented from seeking remedies because legal systems do not recognize their capacity to act. Survivors of violence are frequently re-victimized by justice and protection systems that should safeguard them. Children in conflict with the law are too often subjected to punitive responses rather than rehabilitative measures, as systemic drivers of offending are overlooked.
Addressing these gaps is urgent and possible if global cooperation is strengthened with children’s rights at its core.
Gamechangers: Shifting Systems To Achieve Child-Centered Justice
Innovation is one of the few bright spots in today’s fractured international landscape. Around the world, creative approaches to child-centered justice are emerging, offering practical, scalable solutions. Think of these as “Gamechangers”: innovations that reimagine how justice systems can respond to children’s needs, drawing on children’s lived experiences, research, and the expertise of professionals. We identify seven types of game-changing services, illustrated with key innovations that demonstrate how justice systems can be transformed.
Some Gamechangers work by preventing harm in the first place: These include school-based violence prevention, family support programs, or community justice services that resolve disputes close to home. Others tackle systemic barriers, such as lack of birth registration, which shuts children out of basic rights before their lives have even begun. Still others move from a fragmented, institution-based approach to integrated, multi-sectoral services: For example, Child Advocacy Centers or the Barnahus Model that brings police, social workers, lawyers and psychologists under one roof to support victims of violence; or restorative justice programs that repair relationships instead of compounding harm.
Crucially, child-centered justice also requires the adults in the system (judges, lawyers, police, social workers) to be trained and equipped to communicate with children and respect their rights. It demands safeguards that ensure children understand proceedings, can express their views, and are protected throughout the process. It thrives when alliances are formed across borders, sectors, and generations, and when governments, civil society, professionals, donors, private sector and children themselves come together to drive change.
These examples show that justice for children is not just an aspiration. It’s already happening around the world. The challenge is scaling up what works.
Building an International Alliance of People for Justice
One place this scaling-up has begun is the World Congresses on Justice With Children. This gathering has brought together an unlikely mix of stakeholders; from governments, UN agencies, civil society, academia, and children themselves, to imagine a different future. It has shown what happens when diverse actors join forces: ideas take root, networks form, and momentum builds.
But the World Congresses were never meant to be a one-off event. After the last convening in Madrid in June 2025, an idea emerged to create something lasting: the International Center for Justice Alliance, a global alliance for justice innovation. This non-profit initiative is dedicated to transforming justice systems through collaboration, innovation, and strategic dialogue. Its mission is simple but ambitious: connect profesionals across regions, highlight and scale promising Gamechangers, and keep people and human rights at the heart of justice reform worldwide.
2025: A Turning Point
At a moment when international cooperation is struggling, it may seem utopian to argue for more alliances and collaboration among organizations - but it is precisely through strengthened partnerships that child-centered justice can be advanced and sustained. Without joint action, the justice gap will only grow wider, with consequences that echo far beyond 2030. Closing it is not just about protecting children today; it is about safeguarding the rights and opportunities of future generations.
If we can reinvigorate collaboration, especially in this adverse context, we can turn promising ideas into transformative change. Justice for people cannot wait. Justice for children cannot wait and neither can we.
Salzburg Global was pleased to be an Associated Partner of the 5th World Congress on Justice With Children in June 2025. We would like to thank Cédric and Mariana for helping coordinate the participation of our organization and Fellows.
Cédric Foussard is an international expert in the field of justice for and with children. He established the International Centre for Justice Alliance to amplify his efforts in helping to shape the global discourse and policy around child-centred justice, anchored in children’s rights. He currently also serves as a Visiting Professor in Children’s Justice at the Manchester Metropolitan University. As the Coordinator of the Global Initiative on Justice With Children, he led the organization of the World Congresses on Justice With Children and drafted numerous policy briefs. He also served as Senior Advisor for Advocacy and Global Learning at Terre des hommes Foundation and as Director of the International Juvenile Justice Observatory for over a decade.
Mariana Pérez Cruz is an international children’s rights advocate with legal expertise and global experience advancing child-centered justice. She holds an LLM in International Children’s Rights from Leiden University and has led research, advocacy, and projects with UN bodies, foundations, and international NGOs, focusing on issues such as digital justice, climate justice, and ending violence against children. She has also managed international initiatives and high-level events, bringing together governments, multilateral organizations, and civil society to advance justice for children worldwide.
