Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Children in criminal justice systems are inherently vulnerable, yet digitalisation of court proceedings is accelerating without adequate consideration of their human rights. This research examines how remote hearings impacts children’s human rights in four European jurisdictions. Drawing upon interviews and surveys with children and justice professionals across Romania, Ireland, Spain, and Ukraine, we find that remote hearings systematically disadvantage children experiencing poverty, neurodivergence, language barriers, and other vulnerabilities. Children report feeling excluded, confused, and exposed during remote proceedings, comparing experiences to “watching a YouTube video” rather than participating in legal processes. The pervasive myth of “digital natives” obscures profound disparities in device ownership, connectivity, digital literacy, and safe access among children—disparities intensified along intersecting lines of race, socioeconomic status, and disability. Considering the broader moves towards digitalisation of justice systems, we contend that digitalisation without comprehensive equality impact assessments entrenches structural discrimination and produces injustice.
Source: Oñati Socio-legal Series
Authors: Oscar O'Mara, Nessa Lynch
Institutions: University of Essex, University College Cork
Topic: Education, Law, and Society
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
Funders: European Commission, Justice Programme
OpenAlex ID: W7223060932