Child Rights Coalition Asia (CRC Asia) has played a vital role in shaping General Comment No. 27 (GC 27) by ensuring that children’s voices are at the center of discussions on access to justice and effective remedies. Through regional consultations, CRC Asia gathered insights from children and adults, highlighting barriers, emerging issues, and practical solutions to strengthen children’s civil and political rights.
Justice as Healing, Not Just Punishment
For many children, justice is not just about punishing offenders—it is about restoring dignity, rebuilding their lives, and ensuring they feel safe again. Unlike adults, who tended to focus more on legal accountability, children saw justice as a pathway to healing. One child explained, “Justice should not just be about punishing the bad guys. It should help us feel safe again, help us recover.” This view underscores the importance of justice systems that provide not just punitive measures but also emotional, financial, and social support to child victims.
To make justice meaningful for children, legal frameworks must incorporate restorative justice approaches, such as compensation, psychosocial support, and reintegration programs. Beyond holding perpetrators accountable, justice systems must actively contribute to children’s recovery, ensuring that they regain a sense of security and optimism for the future.
Fear and Distrust: The Biggest Barriers to Justice
Despite the existence of laws meant to protect them, many children remain silent when faced with injustice due to fear of retaliation. In the consultations, children repeatedly expressed concern that reporting abuse could put them at even greater risk. “If we report, will they come after us? What if no one believes us, and we are left alone?” one child asked. Corruption within justice systems further erodes trust, with some children stating that wealthier offenders can avoid accountability through bribes and influence. “Rich people can pay their way out. We don’t stand a chance,” another child shared.
This deep-seated fear and distrust highlight the urgent need for safe, child-friendly reporting mechanisms and stronger protection measures for child complainants. Governments must ensure that children who seek justice are not placed in harm’s way, by strengthening witness protection programs and making legal aid free and accessible. Corruption must also be addressed through accountability measures, so children can trust that the system works for them, not against them.
Justice Must Recognize Digital and Emerging Forms of Violence
As society evolves, so do the ways in which children’s rights are violated. The consultations revealed significant gaps in how justice systems address digital crimes, excessive academic pressure, and the right to play—issues that are increasingly affecting children but remain largely unrecognized in legal frameworks. Adults participating in the discussions acknowledged this oversight, with one stating, “There are no legal pathways for some children’s rights. If a child is overburdened with schoolwork or deprived of play, how do they seek justice?”.
With more children facing online exploitation, cyberbullying, and transnational rights violations, justice systems must adapt. Laws should explicitly define and address online child protection, ensuring that digital crimes against children are punishable and that victims can seek legal remedies. Cross-border cooperation must also be strengthened so that justice extends beyond national boundaries, protecting children in an increasingly interconnected world.
A Justice System That Listens to Children
Another recurring concern from children was that justice systems are intimidating, overly complex, and structured in ways that exclude them. Many children described feeling overwhelmed by legal jargon and the formal nature of court proceedings. “Courtrooms are terrifying. The police talk like we’re criminals, even when we’re the victims,” one child said.
For justice to be truly accessible, it must be child-friendly. Legal procedures should be simplified, and professionals working with children—judges, lawyers, law enforcement—must be trained to communicate in ways that are clear and non-threatening. Spaces where children report violations should be welcoming and safe, not cold and intimidating. Alternative dispute resolution methods, such as child-friendly mediation, should also be explored to make legal processes less distressing for children.
Legal Education Must Start Early
Many children do not know where to report abuse or even that they have legal protections in place. This lack of awareness makes it difficult for them to seek justice. One child expressed frustration, saying, “We should be taught in school how the justice system works. We don’t even know where to go when something happens.”
Adults in the consultations also agreed that legal education should begin early, and that human rights should be integrated into school curriculum. This would empower children with the knowledge they need to recognize violations and take action. Beyond schools, parents and communities must also be educated about children’s rights and legal protections, so they can support children in accessing justice.
Children Must Have a Seat at the Table
Justice cannot be effective if it is designed without the input of those it is meant to serve. Throughout the consultations, children made it clear that they want to be involved in shaping justice reforms, rather than having adults decide on their behalf. “We should be involved in designing justice programs. Not just adults telling us what is good for us,” one child emphasized.
This means going beyond consultation—it means actively involving children in policy discussions, program development, and decision-making processes related to justice. Governments and organizations must create platforms where children can safely express their views and ensure that their recommendations lead to real change.
Holding Governments, Businesses, and Institutions Accountable
Justice is not just about punishing individuals—it is about ensuring that systems and institutions uphold children’s rights. Adults in the consultations pointed out that governments, corporations, and other actors should be held responsible for violations, with one participant stating, “Justice should address corporate and government accountability, not just individual crimes.”
Ensuring justice for children means enforcing corporate responsibility laws, regulating businesses that exploit or harm children, and strengthening mechanisms that hold state actors accountable when they fail to protect children’s rights. Legal reforms must be backed by concrete action to prevent violations at a systemic level.
Justice Requires Adequate Resources and Collaboration
Without proper funding and coordination, justice reforms remain ineffective. Adults highlighted the lack of resources as a major barrier, with one participant stating, “Without resources, justice for children will always be just a dream.” Legal aid services, shelters, and psychosocial support programs must be adequately funded to ensure they reach the children who need them most.
Governments, civil society, and the private sector must work together to close the gaps in the justice system, ensuring that all children—regardless of their background—can access timely and effective remedies.
Moving Forward
CRC Asia’s work on GC 27 has reinforced the urgent need for justice systems that are truly child-centered—accessible, protective, and participatory. By continuing to amplify children’s voices, push for legal and policy reforms, and foster multi-sectoral collaboration, CRC Asia remains committed to ensuring that justice is not just a principle on paper but a reality for all children.
As one child powerfully summarized:
“Justice is not just about punishing bad people. It’s about making sure no child ever has to go through the same pain again.”
Through sustained advocacy, CRC Asia will ensure that the principles of GC 27 translate into real-world impact, transforming justice systems across the Asia-Pacific region.
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