Ending Violence against Children in Detention in the EU: Improved Data Collection in the European Union to Achieve SDG16+ Justice for Children

This Working Paper - Ending Violence Against Children in Detention: Improved Data Collection in the European Union to Achieve SDG16+ Justice for Children - draws on recent research about children’s experiences of violence in European Union detention facilities. It highlights significant challenges related to gaps in data collection and inconsistent legal frameworks across the EU - which violate children’s rights, harm their well-being, and hinder effective policy responses. The Working Paper also features nine key recommendations to improve data collection on violence against children in detention facilities. 

In 2020, an estimated 261,200 children were in detention on any given day worldwide. While the EU accounts for around 10,000 of children in criminal justice-related detention, lessons learned and promising practices are essential for securing child-centred justice and achieving SDG16 for all children in all places around the world.