Practical Guide - Monitoring places where children are deprived of liberty

The project Children's Rights Behind Bars aims at fostering respect for the fundamental rights of children deprived of their liberty.

In this perspective, the first European Guide on monitoring places where children are deprived of their liberty has been produced.

It is a practical tool with preventive and child right-based approach.

Its objective is to contribute to reinforce the capacities of monitoring mechanismsof places where children are deprived of liberty.

The Guide is available in French, English, Italian, Polish, German, Spanish, Albanian, Russian and Armenian. Electronic versions are downloadable here:

- In French: Guide pratique (Brochure explicative)

- In English: Practical Guide (Explanatory Brochure)

- In Italian: Guida pratica

- In Polish: Praktyczny przewodnik

- In German: Leitfaden

- In Spanish: Guía práctica

- In Albanian: Udhëzues Praktik

- In Russian: Практическое руководство 

- In Armenian: Գործնական ուղեցույց

- In Turkish: Uygulama kilavuzu 

The Albanian version was produced in the framework of the Netherlands Helsinki Committee (NHC) project "Improvement of Prison Conditions for Reintegration of Juvenile Detainees in Albania, Macedonia and Kosovo", funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs "Matra Coprol" programme. Translator: Anri Pashaj / Scientific editor: Arta Mandro.

The Practical Guide was translated into Spanish by Defence for Children International - Spain, into Russian by Penal Reform International - Central Asia and into Armenian by the Armenian Ombudsman for children's office.

The production of the German version of the Guide was supported by the Federal Social Insurance Office of Switzerland.

Hard copies (in French and in English) can be ordered upon request to DCI-Belgium at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

- within the limit of available stock

- Guide’s weight: ±350g

- adding shipping charges

During an interview for the Council of Europe, Benoît Van Keirsbilck (Director of Defense of the Children International- Belgium) presented the motivations which have led to the writing of the Practical Guide, as well as an explanation of the function of the Guide in the monitoring of places where children are deprived of liberty, in order to have a better respect of the Rights of the Child. You can watch this interview on the following link.  

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