In relation to the development of child-friendly justice within asylum procedures, the CALL had previously launched a pilot project introducing adapted summonses and a dedicated hearing room for minors appealing negative decisions on international protection applications. The pilot, developed through a co-creation process involving young people with experience of asylum procedures and academic partners, aimed to strengthen procedural fairness from a child-rights perspective and was implemented between December 2024 and May 2025.

Following the evaluation of this pilot, the CALL decided in March 2026 to allow the structural use of the Salle M. The room is now available to all judges handling cases involving unaccompanied minors. Given logistical constraints, hearings may take place either in the adapted room or in a standard courtroom, depending on the decision of the judge in each individual case. In parallel, all unaccompanied minors summoned to a hearing receive age-appropriate invitations, including access to an information video available in seven languages, which is also transmitted to their legal guardian.

The initiative also includes a reinforcement of judicial capacity-building on children’s rights. Several judges have followed specialised training under a joint EU–Council of Europe child-friendly justice project, designed to support the practical implementation of European guidelines on child-friendly justice and related international standards. A train-the-trainer approach has been introduced to further disseminate expertise within the CALL.

For further information about the pilot project, please read this press release in French or in Dutch. For further details on the permanent use of the “Salle M” hearing room, please read this press release in French or in Dutch.