During the World Congress Justice with Children 2025, held this week in Madrid, under the auspices of the UN, UNESCO, UNICEF, or the European Union among others, Baker McKenzie and Iberdrola have presented a Key Report on Children's Climate Justice. This meeting brings together leaders and experts every five years to discuss the global challenges facing children. The World Congress on Justice with Children addresses the critical challenges facing juvenile justice systems.
In the context of Iberdrola's Pro Bono "Building Together" collaboration with Baker McKenzie, this joint project has resulted in a comprehensive report supported by the Global Initiative on Justice With Children. This report analyzes how 25 jurisdictions respond to child homelessness of children in the care of the State in situations of climate disasters.
On June 3, the findings of the Report were presented at the "Climate (in)justice for children" workshop. This event attracted professionals and experts interested in the intersection between children's justice and climate change. The Report, the result of the joint work of Baker McKenzie and Iberdrola teams in Spain, the United States, Mexico, Brazil and Scotland, including subsidiaries Iberdrola Mexico, Scottish Power, Neoenergia and Avangrid, provides a detailed overview of the findings.
The Report underscores the need for protocols in justice systems that protect children in emergency situations, especially in the face of natural disasters such as floods and heat waves. It also highlights the importance of collaboration between governments and organizations to implement disaster mitigation and preparedness measures, ensuring greater protection of children's rights.
In the European context, it is mentioned that in Scotland there are safe care standards published by the Scottish Government in October 2020, aligned with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. These standards focus on providing a safe and comfortable environment for children in juvenile facilities. In addition, the lack of specific climate emergency response measures in juvenile justice facilities in the UK is highlighted, highlighting the need for greater attention and action in this area.
Angela Vigil, global head of Baker McKenzie's Pro Bono practice, highlights that: "it is critical that we address the challenges that climate change imposes on juvenile justice systems. Our Report underscores the urgency of implementing emergency protocols and mitigation measures to protect children in natural disaster situations. The pro bono collaboration with Iberdrola has been essential in bringing this project to fruition, demonstrating our commitment to children's climate justice and the protection of children's rights."
For María Elena Sanz, global head of Iberdrola's pro bono program, "these types of agreements are necessary for society, and offer young people and children - who are the future agents of change in the energy transition - legal tools for their transformation. In addition, they demonstrate the commitment of the legal profession to this vulnerable population group who, without having contributed to the acceleration of climate change, will suffer its consequences for the rest of their lives".
Baker McKenzie and Iberdrola, strong supporters of these initiatives and collaborators of the Congress, have had the active participation of their professionals in various round tables and workshops throughout the event.
The Justice with Children World Congress is organized by the JWC Global Initiative, a project co-organized by the international foundation Terre des hommes. The initiative facilitates interaction between professionals for the exchange of best practices, scientific cooperation and the formulation of policy recommendations.
Baker McKenzie and Iberdrola's active participation in this Congress and the presentation of their joint Report reaffirm their commitment to the protection of children's rights and their collaboration to address urgent global challenges such as children's climate justice.
In the context of Iberdrola's Pro Bono "Building Together" collaboration with Baker McKenzie, this joint project has resulted in a comprehensive report supported by the Global Initiative on Justice With Children. This report analyzes how 25 jurisdictions respond to child homelessness of children in the care of the State in situations of climate disasters.
On June 3, the findings of the Report were presented at the "Climate (in)justice for children" workshop. This event attracted professionals and experts interested in the intersection between children's justice and climate change. The Report, the result of the joint work of Baker McKenzie and Iberdrola teams in Spain, the United States, Mexico, Brazil and Scotland, including subsidiaries Iberdrola Mexico, Scottish Power, Neoenergia and Avangrid, provides a detailed overview of the findings.
The Report underscores the need for protocols in justice systems that protect children in emergency situations, especially in the face of natural disasters such as floods and heat waves. It also highlights the importance of collaboration between governments and organizations to implement disaster mitigation and preparedness measures, ensuring greater protection of children's rights.
In the European context, it is mentioned that in Scotland there are safe care standards published by the Scottish Government in October 2020, aligned with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. These standards focus on providing a safe and comfortable environment for children in juvenile facilities. In addition, the lack of specific climate emergency response measures in juvenile justice facilities in the UK is highlighted, highlighting the need for greater attention and action in this area.
Angela Vigil, global head of Baker McKenzie's Pro Bono practice, highlights that: "it is critical that we address the challenges that climate change imposes on juvenile justice systems. Our Report underscores the urgency of implementing emergency protocols and mitigation measures to protect children in natural disaster situations. The pro bono collaboration with Iberdrola has been essential in bringing this project to fruition, demonstrating our commitment to children's climate justice and the protection of children's rights."
For María Elena Sanz, global head of Iberdrola's pro bono program, "these types of agreements are necessary for society, and offer young people and children - who are the future agents of change in the energy transition - legal tools for their transformation. In addition, they demonstrate the commitment of the legal profession to this vulnerable population group who, without having contributed to the acceleration of climate change, will suffer its consequences for the rest of their lives".
Baker McKenzie and Iberdrola, strong supporters of these initiatives and collaborators of the Congress, have had the active participation of their professionals in various round tables and workshops throughout the event.
The Justice with Children World Congress is organized by the JWC Global Initiative, a project co-organized by the international foundation Terre des hommes. The initiative facilitates interaction between professionals for the exchange of best practices, scientific cooperation and the formulation of policy recommendations.
Baker McKenzie and Iberdrola's active participation in this Congress and the presentation of their joint Report reaffirm their commitment to the protection of children's rights and their collaboration to address urgent global challenges such as children's climate justice.
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