NOVA Centre for Child Law and Children's Rights
“You know, a person is not from a country. A person is from a childhood.”
in Interdito a Cães e Italianos
The NOVA Centre for Child Law and Children’s Rights is an integral part of CEDIS – NOVA School of Law. Its main aim is to develop activities on Child Law and Children’s Rights, focused on public interest and adopting an interdisciplinary approach. Its activities encompass scientific research, education, training, citizenship, consultancy, drafting of studies and opinions, editorial activities and production of digital content, as well as initiatives aimed at promoting and safeguarding children’s rights.
The centre places particular emphasis on the study of Child Law at national, European, and international levels.
Coordination
João Zenha Martins
Director
Odete Severino Soares
Subdirector
NOVA School of Law Professors
Teresa Pizarro Beleza
Cristina Nogueira da Silva
Miguel de Azevedo Moura
Claire Bright
Joana Farrajota
Marta Costa
Raquel Barradas de Freitas
Graça Canto Moniz
Maria Miguel Oliveira da Silva
International Guest Professors
Philip C. Jaffé
University of Geneva and Member of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child
Helen Saltford
Head of the Law Department at Liverpool Law School
Researchers
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Scientific Council and Strategic Steering Committee
The NOVA Centre for Child Law and Children’s Rights is embodied by a Scientific Council and a Strategic Committee (CC & COE), with the participation of recognised merit personalities in this area, both national and international, who can guide and accompany the Centre’s interventions, especially with regard to:
- research work and comparative law studies in relation to Children’s Law(s)
- the construction of research and training programme references
- the implementation of action research projects and
- the promotion of student and teacher exchange programmes with similar national, European and international higher education institutions.
The members of the CC & COE will be introduced shortly.
Objectives
- Develop and disseminate knowledge on Child Law;
- Promote, conduct and coordinate scientific and interdisciplinary research on Child Law, particularly at the intersection of Private and Public Law, with a specific focus on Family Law and the defence of children’s rights;
- Implement action-research projects in Child Law, including projects with social impact;
- Foster scientific exchange with national, European, and international institutions, researchers and professionals;
- Provide advanced training for professionals in Child Law and related areas;
- Support the formulation of public policies on Child Law, applying relevant data, legal instruments, and best practices at national, European, and international levels;
- Analyse outputs from the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child and other relevant human rights bodies, as well as other international and European legal instruments and mechanisms relevant to the study of and scientific research into Child Law.
Activities
- Conduct scientific research;
- Organise advanced training courses;
- Host national and international conferences, seminars and workshops;
- Draft studies and legal opinions, and provide consultancy services;
- Publish scientific works and reports on Child Law;
- Participate in relevant public consultations on legislative and/or policy initiatives;
- Establish partnerships and collaboration frameworks with national, European, and international research institutions to foster scientific and/or pedagogical cooperation;
- Create legal clinics or platforms for the practical application of Child Law, at national, European, and international levels to contribute to policy improvement and child rights protection;
- Raise awareness and provide information on children’s rights among public and private entities.
Key areas of Child Law
- Child protection;
- Promotion of rights and protection of children and young people at risk;
- Criminal justice and protection of child victims of crime;
Juvenile justice; - Child-friendly justice and access to justice (as victims, witnesses, defendants, or subjects of judicial decisions);
International Law; - Children’s Rights, including:
The right of children to engage in participation and receive information in different settings; - Violence against children, particularly sexual abuse and online violence;
- Emerging legal areas, such as climate litigation, artificial intelligence, the digital environment, data protection, and the right to play;
- UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and other human rights instruments, including comparative legal analysis, implementation monitoring and policy and legislative recommendations.
Partnerships
Considering the objectives of NOVA Centre for Child Law and Children’s Rights’ research and study area, partnership agreements will be signed with public and private organisations and/or individuals relevant to the pursuit of the Centre’s objectives, in order to ensure an integrated multidisciplinary and global approach.
Budget
In order to ensure NOVA Centre for Child Law and Children’s Rights’ financial viability, it is foreseen to entail:
- Permanent cooperation partnerships with public and private organisations and/or individuals relevant to the pursuit of the Centre’s objectives;
- Cooperation protocols with national and international public organisations (e.g. PALOP, East Timor and Ibero-America);
- External funding programmes through applications submitted to the FCT, the European Commission and other national and international organisations;
- Consultancies and studies in the area of children’s rights with national and international public and private organisations (e.g. Council of Europe, European Commission, UNICEF);
- Cooperation agreements with European and international organisations;
- Advanced training in the area of children’s law.
