Children in street situations face discrimination, criminalisation, and violence - yet are often denied justice. Every child has the right to protection and access to justice, especially those most excluded and at risk. Justice is more than courts. It means being seen, heard, and protected. It means being able to seek support, report abuse, and access help without fear.

Justice begins with listening to children – and making sure systems respond to their realities, not punish them for survival. IDSC 2026 is a critical moment for global solidarity. It is an opportunity to spotlight locally led, participatory, and child-centred promising practices driven by network members, and to ensure that street connected children are meaningfully heard and not left behind in commitments to strengthen access to justice at local, national, regional, and global levels.

Children in street situations face multiple barriers to justice: stigma, discrimination, lack of legal identity, and distrust of authorities make them more vulnerable to violence and abuse.

Children must not be punished for survival. Behaviours like begging or loitering are linked to poverty and survival, not crime.

Clear guidance exists: UNCRC General Comment No. 21 confirms children in street situations have the same rights as every other child, including access to justice.

To advance access to justice for street-connected children, we call on governments to:

1. Enable safe and meaningful child participation in shaping justice reforms. Listen to children to ensure justice
systems are fair, inclusive, trauma informed and accessible.
2. Partner with and fund trusted community organisations supporting street-connected children.
3. Close protection gaps:
a. Decriminalise survival behaviours and promote diversion and referrals to support.
b. Guarantee legal identity and access to birth registration.
c. Enable safe and child-friendly reporting of abuse, including through community-based mechanisms and
independent oversight of police.
d. Ensure access to effective remedies.