The Superior Council of Magistracy, acting as Programme Component Operator, in partnership with the National Institute of Magistracy, is implementing the Programme Component "Enhancing and consolidating a child friendly justice system", funded through the Swiss-Romanian Cooperation Programme, second contribution.

DESCRIPTION: The Public Security and Safety Programme "Justice", funded by the Second Swiss Contribution to selected member states of the European Union (hereinafter referred to as the Swiss-Romanian Cooperation Programme), aims to reduce economic and social disparities within the European Union.

PROGRAMME OPERATOR: Ministry of Justice  

PROGRAMME COMPONENT OPERATOR: Superior Council of Magistracy  

PARTNERS:  National Institute of Magistracy

GENERAL OBJECTIVE: Strengthening a child friendly judicial system, with a direct impact on the protection of children during judicial proceedings, with a focus on sexual violence and child pornography.

RESULTS: The Program Component aims to achieve the following outcomes:

1. Inter-institutional approach for proceedings involving minors, at the level of courts, focused on cases of sexual violence against children improved

2. Professional training improved, by using a different approach to initial and continuous training in the field of child friendly justice

3. Level of information, awareness of rights and legal literacy of children increased

4. Infrastructure developed in line with the principles of a child-friendly justice

Within the Program Component, activities and interventions will be implemented regarding: (1) creating the prerequisites for inter-institutional cooperation in the field of juvenile justice, focusing on the development of a referral system for proceedings involving minors, particularly cases involving sexual offences against minors; (2) providing professional training for legal and non-legal staff in the field of juvenile justice, covering areas such as child interviewing techniques, specifically the use of the NICHD-R Protocol, trauma, and child pornography, as well as organizing best practice missions to EU/non-EU states in the field of juvenile justice; (3) increasing awareness regarding minors' rights in relation to the judiciary system and judicial proceedings; and (4) developing hearing rooms within national courts.

IMPLEMENTATION PERIOD: May 30, 2025 – April 20, 2028

TOTAL VALUE: The eligible contract value amounts to 13,040,750 RON, of which 11,084,637.50 RON (85%) represents non-reimbursable external funding.

FUNDING SOURCE:  Detailed information regarding the funding source can be found at https://www.swiss-contribution.ro/web/swiss.

PRESS RELEASES: Press release on the launch of the Program Component implementation.