Bridge the gap - Recommendations Paper

These recommendations were developed as part of Bridge the Gap, a project by Defence for Children Italy, carried out in collaboration with the University of Genoa and co-funded by the European Union as part of the Child Friendly Justice Network.

The initiative values the participation of young people with direct experience of the reception and justice systems, recognising their stories as an essential source of knowledge for guiding practices and policies. Between July and December 2025, a group of Young Justice Transformers shared their experiences and reflections on the transition to independence, collecting testimonies that immediately convey the point of view of those who go through these systems every day.

Part of the group brought this experience to the Child Justice Caravan in Brussels, contributing their voices to the European dialogue on justice tailored to young people.

The recommendations were developed with the University of Genoa to guide the work of those involved in protection and justice at local, national and European level.