Prof Jennifer Davidson. Child-Centered Justice: Rethinking Systems for Children’s Rights
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
In this episode of the Do One Better Podcast, Alberto Lidji speaks with Professor Jennifer Davidson, Executive Director of the Institute for Inspiring Children’s Futures at the University of Strathclyde. The conversation examines how global coalitions, governments, and communities can work together to better uphold children’s rights.
Professor Davidson outlines the Institute’s mission to bridge research and real-world impact, focusing on children facing the greatest adversities. The discussion highlights a persistent global gap between society’s aspirations for children and their lived realities, and the structural barriers that continue to limit children’s access to justice, safety, and well-being.
A central theme is the concept of child-centered justice. This approach reframes justice systems to recognize children as rights holders with agency, emphasizing outcomes that are safe, inclusive, and developmentally appropriate. It extends beyond formal legal systems to consider the full spectrum of children’s lived experiences, from victims of abuse to those in conflict with the law.
The episode also examines the work of the Justice Action Coalition, a high-ambition partnership advancing people-centered justice in alignment with United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 16. With growing governmental engagement, the coalition is now placing children at the forefront of justice reform efforts, aiming to align political will with actionable, scalable solutions.
Key insights from the conversation include:
Why justice systems often fail children, even when laws are in place
The importance of listening directly to children’s experiences and perspectives
Early findings from research across Sierra Leone, Greece, South Africa, Colombia, and the Philippines
The role of feedback loops in improving public systems and closing implementation gaps
Emerging challenges, including the impact of AI and digital systems on children’s rights
The need for greater philanthropic focus on justice for children as a distinct field
Professor Davidson also reflects on her professional journey, from frontline social work to leading systems change initiatives, and explains why accountability and justice are essential to sustaining progress for children over time.
This episode offers a rigorous and globally informed perspective on how justice systems can evolve to better serve children.
About Prof Jennifer Davidson
Professor Jennifer Davidson is a leading voice on children’s rights in everyday lives, shaping change at both local and global levels. She is the Executive Director of the award-winning Institute for Inspiring Children’s Futures at the University of Strathclyde in Scotland, which is fuelled by a simple but urgent belief: that every child should have what they need to thrive, especially those facing the greatest adversity.
With an international outlook, and a focus on intergenerational collaborations with children and policy-makers, Jennifer works in multidisciplinary and cross-sector partnerships to find new solutions to long-standing problems - and newly emerging ones - to tackle the structural barriers that hold children back. Bridging evidence with advocacy and action, her work aims to turn children’s rights, justice, and well being into everyday reality. Grounded in human rights and the UN Sustainable Development Goals, she champions research-informed solutions leveraging global aspirations to deliver real change in children’s day-to-day realities.
Jennifer’s early frontline work with children, young people and families has profoundly shaped her career, and continues to inspire and motivate her. Now with experience across governments and international agencies, she leads the Global Working Group on Justice for Children, and the Institute is a founding member of the Justice Action Coalition - a high ambition coalition of governments and organisations driving people-centred justice reforms. Jennifer was the founding director of CELCIS, a pioneering implementation and improvement centre driving systems-change for children in need of care and protection. She was awarded the prestigious royal honour of OBE for services to children in Scotland and abroad.