Across Canada, young people are increasingly acting as human rights defenders as they work to protect, promote, and claim their rights. Yet despite their activism, children continue to face significant barriers when seeking access to justice. In this presentation, you will hear about findings from research evaluating ombudsman, child and youth advocates, and human rights tribunals through principles of child-friendly justice, including the availability of mechanisms, the extent of children’s access and participation, the presence of child-sensitive procedures, and the quality of communication tailored to young people. The discussion will focus on concrete recommendations for policymakers, practitioners, and researchers seeking to design child-sensitive complaint pathways, enhance institutional responsiveness, and promote children’s active participation as rights defenders.
