The EPO4YOUTH project – Advancing Juvenile Justice and Detention Conditions in Europe was officially launched with a kick-off meeting held in Budapest on 29–30 January, bringing together all 10 project partners at the start of a shared European initiative.
Coordinated by Antigone Onlus, EPO4YOUTH seeks to strengthen juvenile justice systems and improve detention conditions for minors across Europe. The project is rooted in a rights-based perspective and combines comparative research with transnational cooperation to support more effective, fair and humane policies.
The kick-off meeting represented an important milestone for the project, providing partners with the opportunity to establish a common understanding of objectives, roles and working methods. Over the two days, discussions focused on the overall implementation strategy, administrative and organisational procedures, and the review and approval of key project materials. The meeting also fostered constructive dialogue and collaboration among partners operating in diverse national contexts.
A significant part of the meeting was dedicated to the project’s research component, which will focus on a comparative analysis of juvenile detention systems in the partner countries. This work will result in the production of nine national reports on juvenile justice systems, published in all partner languages, as well as one comprehensive comparative report examining juvenile detention systems across Europe. Coordinated by Fachhochschule Dortmund, the research activities will provide a solid evidence base to inform the subsequent phases of the project and contribute to future policy recommendations.
During the meeting, Europamente, as the partner responsible for Quality Assurance, presented the Quality and Evaluation Plan, outlining the framework and tools that will guide monitoring and ensure the quality, coherence and consistency of the project’s activities and outputs.
The Budapest kick-off meeting marked a strong and well-structured beginning for EPO4YOUTH. Through collaboration, rigorous research and sustained dialogue, the project aims to make a meaningful contribution to advancing juvenile justice and improving detention conditions for young people across Europe.
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