The 2023 "Crystal Scales of Justice" Prize has been awarded to the Judicial Training School and "Hope For Children" - CRC Policy Center (Cyprus), for its "Kids in Court Game" initiative for children. The project "Kids in Court Game (KiCGame)" (Presentation) consists of four different games designed to prepare children psychologically and emotionally to testify in court as witnesses.
Two special mentions were also awarded to the two following projects:
- "Facility Dogs Europe - FYDO", Victim Support Europe (Belgium, France and Italy);
- "Civil and criminal chamber specialised in environmental and urbanism matters", Court of appeal of Mons (Belgium).
The prize was awarded to School Director George Erotocritou, and Andria Neocleous, its Executive Director, at a ceremony organised in Paris in the presence of Eric Dupond-Moretti, Minister of Justice (France), Pap Ndiaye, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of France to the Council of Europe and Christophe Poirel, Director of Human Rights of the Council of Europe. Members of the competition jury, which comprised prominent personalities in the field of justice, were also at the ceremony, to explain the jury's choice. The Ministry of Justice of France, winner of the last edition of the Prize (2021), hosted the event.
The Crystal Scales of Justice Prize is organised by the European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice (CEPEJ) and aims to highlight European best practices within European judicial systems. For this year's edition, 48 projects from 17 countries were submitted, focusing in particular on access to justice, the protection of victims, and the digitalisation of justice.
Council of Europe Crystal Scales of Justice Prize awarded to Cypriot children's initiative
