Justice for children Campaign – “Just a child”

Children who come in contact with the justice system – as victims, witnesses or in conflict with the law - experience psychological trauma. es

Whether through exposure to adverse childhood experiences at home or through the interaction that brings them in contact with the justice system, trauma can have a profound impact on their ability to think, feel and behave. It’s difficult to know who and to what extent is affected by trauma, so systems and communities must ensure that all children feel safe, secure, seen, and soothed. 

The way children in conflict with the law and children at risk are treated by the system and community will determine the path they take to recovery. Punitive measures to correct a child’s behavior can have negative life-time consequences. The campaign “Just a child” reflects on the fact that exposure to traumatic events in early childhood often have a lifelong impact. Four children shared their stories on trauma and their lost trust in those who were supposed to take care of them, on recovered self-love, hope and dreams for the future. Based on the stories a hero video, four separate video testimonials and editorials were created.