The video aims to prepare children for asylum hearings.
The Austrian Ministry of Justice and the Federal Administrative Court launched a child-friendly video to help young asylum seekers understand what happens during court sessions. The project aims to make legal proceedings less intimidating for minor children.
The video follows the experience of Amir, a 17-year-old who arrived in Austria alone, and Leila, a 13-year-old who came with her mother. It explains every step in the asylum session, starting from security checks and courtroom rules to the judge's attire and questioning.
The video is currently available in German and will soon be provided in several languages, including Arabic, Dari/Persian, English, French, Kurdish, Pashto, Russian, Somali, and Turkish, to ensure access for refugee children from diverse backgrounds.
Justice Minister Anna Sporrer confirmed that child-friendly justice is a priority, pointing to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which mandates providing understandable and appropriate information to minor children in legal proceedings, especially those fleeing conflict or persecution.
Children and youth participated in the development of the project to ensure that the video meets their needs. Christian Viltzweiser, the president of the Federal Administrative Court, emphasized that this preparation enhances trust in the judicial system, protects the most vulnerable minors, and contributes to conducting effective sessions.