This conference is a collaboration between Garden Court Chambers’ Children’s Rights Team, the University College London (UCL) Centre for Access to Justice and Legal Action Group (LAG).
| Date: | Wednesday 18 November 2026 |
|---|---|
| Venue: | UCL Bentham House London, United Kingdom |
| Areas of Law: | Children’s Rights, Children Law, Youth Justice & Child Rights |
Promoting Universal Children’s Rights
To mark Universal Children’s Day, we will bring together lawyers, academics, professionals, campaigners and those on the frontline to discuss how to best advocate for children and ensure their rights are safeguarded and enforced.
The purpose of this conference is to encourage a multi-disciplinary approach to children’s rights and further grow the community of children’s rights legal specialists and organisations championing the rights of children.
We are delighted to announce Lady Hale will be providing the keynote address.
This conference is a collaboration between Garden Court Children’s Rights Team, the University College London (UCL) Centre for Access to Justice and Legal Action Group.
Confirmed speakers include members of our Children’s Rights and Family Law Teams:
Stephanie Harrison KC, Amanda Weston KC, Nicola Braganza KC, Amanda Meusz, Helen Curtis, Marina Sergides, Kate Aubrey-Johnson, Stephen Lue, Jennifer Twite, Stephen Clark, Maria Moodie, Emma Fitzsimons, James Holmes, Ollie Persey, Eva Doerr & Rosa Thomas.
Other confirmed speakers (so far) include:
Gemma Creamer (Lawyers Who Care & GT Stewart), Professor Helen Stalford (University of Liverpool), Chris Callender (Just for Kids Law), Katya Moran (Youth Justice Legal Centre), Dr Laura Janes, Sonia Kalsi (UCL), Dr Miranda Bevan (KCL), Raphael Cadenhead. Jenny Summer, Aika Stephenson (Just for Kids Law), Sandra Paul (Kingsley Napley), Dr Jo Wilding (University of Sussex), Professor Carlene Firmin (Durham University), Dr Hannah King (Durham University), Carolyne Willow (The Barrister Group), Lucy Barnes (East Anglian Chambers), Louise King (Children’s Rights Alliance for England) and Rachel Knowles (UCL).
All too often, our justice system fails children. Measures which should protect, often expose them to harm, particularly in secure settings and at key moments of transition. Why the justice system fails to safeguard children, our most vulnerable members of society, is the focus of this conference. We will explore the key issues, identify solutions and the urgent actions required for the rhetoric to match the reality.
The conference will include workshops on 4 main themes, which are:
- Theme 1 – Effective participation of children in the legal system. At the police station, in courts and tribunals: from arrest to parole. Supporting victims and perpetrators: accuser and accused.
- Theme 2 – Recognition and protections for children. Who is a child and when childhood isn’t recognised or protected.
- Theme 3 – Contextual and transitional safeguarding. Examining protections for children in unsafe environments and secure settings through a safeguarding lens: school exclusion, turning 18, homeless and destitute children/ young people; release from secure settings and reintegration. How can the legal system catch up with practice in its approach to contextual and transitional safeguarding?
- Theme 4 – Giving children a voice. Ensuring the child’s views are taken into account and embedding children’s rights in decision-making.
This conference will be an opportunity to come together and be part of a movement where children are enabled to effectively access and secure their rights and protections across the legal system.
For too long, children have been unable to advocate for themselves and have been left without a voice or agency in processes that happen to them, without a clear roadmap to direct them to, and provide them with, the support they need. We will place children at the heart of this conference and come together as a social justice community recognising the need to do things differently to support and protect children’s rights and interests.
