Guatemala’s Supreme Court and Kids Alive International Convene International Summit to Advance Child-Centered Justice
ANTIGUA, Guatemala (May 8, 2026) — More than 120 judges and magistrates from across Guatemala gathered in Antigua Guatemala on May 8 for the Congreso Internacional del Derecho de la Niñez y Adolescencia (International Summit on the Law of Childhood and Adolescence), a landmark event advancing child-centered and trauma-informed justice practices across Guatemala’s judicial system.
The summit was convened by Guatemala’s Judicial Branch, through the Civil Chamber, with the support of Kids Alive International. Judges and magistrates from Escuintla, Sacatepéquez, and Chimaltenango participated in the full-day training at Hotel Soleil Antigua Guatemala.
For Kids Alive International, the event represented a meaningful step forward in its partnership with Guatemala’s justice system and its ongoing work to help transform trauma to triumph for every child who has been abused or marginalized.
Magistrates of the Supreme Court Of Justice (Left to right): Estuardo Adolfo Cardenas, Flor de María Gálvez Barrios, Corbey Dukes (Kids Alive International CEO), and Teodúlo Ildefonso Cifuentes Maldonado.
"Because the children we serve live in real communities governed by real laws and real systems, we cannot ignore those systems,” said Corbey Dukes, CEO and President of Kids Alive International. “When we have the opportunity to partner with governments, strengthen policy, and help make justice more effective for children, we step in with humility, excellence, and a commitment to healing. This is what we mean by Justice that Heals.”
The summit featured presentations from Judge Rosemarie Aquilina, internationally known for her role in the Larry Nassar sentencing hearings; Thomas Charles Rawlings, attorney and Kids Alive International Board Member; and Judge Juan Orlando Calderón Sierra, who addressed protective measures for children and adolescents through the analysis of emblematic cases.
Judge Aquilina emphasized that courts have the power to become places where children are not only heard, but also protected from further harm.
"Healing does begin in the justice system,” said Judge Rosemarie Aquilina. “Justice is about how people experience the process, not just about the outcome. When we give a child a voice, when we believe them, we let them know from the very beginning that they matter, that they are clean, that they are whole, and that they have not done anything wrong.”
In her presentation, Judge Aquilina spoke extensively about the importance of trauma-informed questioning, child-sensitive courtroom environments, and careful forensic interview practices that protect both the dignity of children and the integrity of their testimony. She stressed that repeated questioning, intimidating environments, or poorly trained interview techniques can retraumatize children and undermine the pursuit of justice itself.
She also challenged judicial leaders to rethink how children are questioned, how many times they are asked to repeat their story, and how courtroom environments are experienced by children carrying deep trauma and fear into the legal process.
“Creating space for survivors to speak does not weaken the court,” Judge Aquilina said. “It strengthens the justice system and sends a message that predatory behavior will not be tolerated.”
Rawlings expanded on the global movement toward child-friendly justice, highlighting the importance of children’s rights, developmental needs, family connection, trauma-responsive care, and multidisciplinary teams.
"Justice means making things right,” said Thomas Charles Rawlings, attorney and Kids Alive International Board Member. “We cannot make things right if the child at the center of the process does not feel cared for, heard, and protected throughout it.”
Rawlings noted that children who enter legal proceedings often come with fear, confusion, shame, and trauma. Because of this, courts must not only seek truth, but also understand how a child’s development, memory, trauma response, and need for trusted adults affect their ability to participate.
He encouraged judicial leaders to continue building systems where children are guided by trusted adults, supported through multidisciplinary collaboration, and treated in ways that recognize both their vulnerability and dignity.
“A child-friendly justice system is one where children can understand the process, participate in it, and be protected through it,” Rawlings said. “That requires judges, legal professionals, psychologists, social workers, and care providers to bring their expertise together.”
Why This Summit Matters
For children who have experienced abuse, the courtroom can either become another place of fear or a place where healing begins. Throughout the summit, speakers emphasized that child-centered justice is not simply about reaching a legal outcome. It is about protecting the dignity of the child, preserving the integrity of their testimony, and ensuring that every step of the process helps move them toward safety, healing, and restoration.
Judge Aquilina emphasized that children who experience trauma often carry shame, fear, and confusion into the courtroom, making trauma-informed care and forensic interviewing practices critical for both healing and credible legal outcomes. She also spoke about how courtroom experiences can either deepen trauma or become pivotal moments where children begin to rediscover their voice, dignity, and value.
Rawlings connected those practices to the broader international movement toward child-friendly justice, emphasizing that children need systems built around their developmental needs, trauma responses, family connections, and right to participate in proceedings that affect their lives.
(Left to right): Sergio Ayala Acevedo General Secretary of the Presidence of the Supreme Court of Justice, Saúl Estuardo Reyes Valenzuela, Director of the School of Judicial Studies, Vincio Zuquino, Rachel Davidson, Silvia Marroquin and Hon, Judge Rosemarie Aquilina
Together, the presentations reinforced a central truth of Kids Alive International’s Justice that Heals approach: when courts, care providers, therapists, legal advocates, and government leaders work together, justice can become more than a verdict. It can become a pathway toward healing.
One of the most powerful moments of the summit came when Magistrate Flor de María Gálvez Barrios of Guatemala’s Supreme Court of Justice echoed the heart of Kids Alive’s Justice that Heals approach.
"To bring a child to court is not simply to punish the guilty,” said Magistrate Gálvez Barrios. “It is an opportunity not to erase their wounds, but to heal their wounds and accompany them in a plan for a better life.”
Kids Alive International has worked in Guatemala for years alongside community leaders, government partners, and judicial authorities to strengthen systems of protection, care, and justice for children. Its integrated approach brings together legal advocacy, trauma-informed care, family strengthening, and multidisciplinary support so children are not left to navigate complex systems alone.
This approach is producing measurable results. Kids Alive has seen strong outcomes in family reintegration, as well as conviction rates in child sexual abuse cases that far exceed global averages when multidisciplinary support is involved.
“These invitations are earned over time,” Dukes said. “When you deliver on your promises, serve with excellence, and come with open hands, trust grows. We believe this is part of our calling as followers of Christ: to serve with wisdom, humility, and a genuine desire for children, families, and communities to thrive.”
The summit further strengthens Kids Alive International’s growing work alongside government and judicial leaders in Guatemala, Peru, and Zambia. Through these partnerships, Kids Alive is helping build systems that protect children, strengthen families, and create pathways for healing and justice.
Together with local leaders, courts, and communities, Kids Alive International continues working toward its mission of transforming trauma to triumph for every child who has been abused or marginalized.
Local Guatemala Update
To learn more about how this summit was shared and experienced locally in Guatemala, view the update from the Kids Alive Guatemala team here: Read the Local Guatemala Update on Facebook
About Kids Alive International
Kids Alive International is a global nonprofit dedicated to transforming trauma into triumph for children who have experienced abuse, neglect, and injustice.
Working across six countries—Guatemala, Peru, Haiti, Lebanon, Zambia, and Kenya—Kids Alive partners with local communities, governments, and leaders to create environments where children are protected, their voices are heard, and healing can begin.
Through an integrated approach, Kids Alive helps restore bonds that mend, strengthens access to justice that heals, and equips children with skills that matter for a stronger future. From the moment a child is identified as vulnerable to the long-term process of healing and growth, the focus remains the same: ensuring each child is safe, valued, and equipped to move forward with dignity and hope.
At the heart of this work is a belief that every child is created with inherent dignity and worth, and that when justice is pursued with care and compassion, restoration is possible.
Gilbert Phiri, Zambia Director of Public Prosecutions & Bestone Banda, Director of Kids Alive Zambia
New agreement between National Prosecution Authority and Kids Alive integrates legal action with therapy and care, setting a new model for protecting children across Africa
LUSAKA, Zambia (April 23, 2026) — In a milestone moment for child protection in Zambia, the National Prosecution Authority (NPA) and Kids Alive Zambia have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to strengthen how cases involving children are handled, ensuring that justice is pursued alongside care, dignity, and long-term restoration in one of the world’s youngest nations.
This partnership establishes a coordinated approach that brings together legal representation, psychological support, and social services for children navigating the justice system.
While collaborations addressing child protection exist globally, this level of formal integration between a national prosecution authority and an organization providing both legal and psychosocial support at the case level is rare, and it is believed to be among the first of its kind in Africa.
Kids Alive Zambia children joining the fight to prevent child abuse
A Critical Moment for Zambia’s Children
Zambia is one of the youngest countries in the world, with more than half its population under the age of 18. Yet many children face significant barriers to safety and justice:
In 2025, the NPA recorded 1906 child victims and witnesses, the majority of whom were victims of sexual violence.
1 in 3 females have experienced sexual violence before the age of 18.
42% of girls in Zambia are said to be married before the age of 18.
When systems are strained, children often carry the weight. They face not only trauma from abuse, but also additional distress as they navigate complex legal processes.
Gilbert Phiri, Zambia Director of Public Prosecutions
"This MOU is a clear and compelling step toward establishing a collaborative framework that strengthens the prosecution of sexual violence cases against children, while ensuring child victims and witnesses receive the care, protection, and dignity they deserve. Justice, in these circumstances, must go beyond conviction. It must also restore, protect, and empower.” - Gilbert Phiri, Zambia Director of Public Prosecutions
Transforming the Experience of Justice
Through this agreement, Kids Alive Zambia will work alongside prosecutors to:
Provide direct legal representation for children in criminal cases who have been victims of sexual or physical abuse
Deliver trauma-informed therapy and counseling before, during, and after court proceedings
Support children and families through social work services, preparation, and ongoing care
Help create child-friendly court environments that reduce retraumatization
This integrated model ensures that children are not left to navigate the justice system alone, but are supported at every step.
"Because of this agreement, together we are strengthening the prosecution of cases involving violence against children, while also ensuring that children receive trauma-informed care, psychosocial support, and long-term rehabilitation. This means that a child will not walk through the legal process alone. They will be supported with counseling, care, and people who see them not just as a case, but as a child worthy of dignity and healing.” - Rachel Davidson, Chief Operating Officer of Kids Alive International
Rachel Davidson, Kids Alive International COO, Bestone Banda, Director of Kids Alive Zambia, & Gilbert Phiri, Zambia Director of Public Prosecutions
This approach builds on proven work implemented by Kids Alive in other countries. In Guatemala, this integrated model has contributed to significantly improved outcomes for children, including increased conviction rates and stronger long-term healing. The model was later expanded in Peru through partnerships with national and local justice systems. Zambia now represents the third country where this model is being implemented, marking a continued expansion of a proven, child-centered approach designed for replication and long-term impact. Across these contexts, integrated legal and care approaches have consistently led to stronger outcomes for children, including increased case resolution and greater long-term healing.
As these systems work together, children begin to heal. They rediscover their dignity and identity. They find their voice in the courtroom and beyond. They begin to believe that their story is not over. In Guatemala, when this model is in place, conviction rates have increased from 3 percent to more than 70 percent and continue to grow, leading to greater accountability, justice, and healing.
A Model for the Future
The partnership comes at a time when Zambia’s leaders are calling for stronger, more coordinated action to address violence against children.
Rachel Davidson, Kids Alive International COO & Bestone Banda, Director of Kids Alive Zambia signing the MOU with the Zambia Prosecutor's Office
“Cases of child sexual abuse are not just numbers or dockets. They are lived realities of children,” Phiri added. “They require a collaborative, multi-sectoral approach.”
By aligning prosecutors, legal advocates, and care providers, this initiative represents a shift toward a more holistic justice system, one that prioritizes both accountability and healing.
Kids Alive Zambia Country Director Bestone Banda emphasized the broader impact of the agreement:
“This partnership supports a justice system that not only prosecutes offenders, but also safeguards children and supports their recovery, ensuring they are protected, heard, and cared for throughout the process.”
A Pioneering Step Forward
By formally integrating prosecution with therapy and coordinated case support, this partnership demonstrates what is possible when systems work together to serve the best interests of the child.
What is being built in Zambia is more than a program. It is a model.
“This partnership represents a model of collaboration that brings together justice and care in a way that is both practical and deeply impactful,” Davidson said. “What is being built here in Zambia is not only important. It is pioneering.”
As Zambia continues to strengthen its systems and invest in its future, this agreement marks a significant step toward ensuring that children are not only protected, but given the opportunity to heal, find their voice, and move forward with dignity. Partnerships like this are made possible through the ongoing support of those committed to seeing children experience both justice and restoration.
Read more through locally recognized media outlets in Zambia:
Kids Alive International is a global nonprofit dedicated to transforming trauma into triumph for children who have experienced abuse, neglect, and injustice.
Working across six countries—Guatemala, Peru, Haiti, Lebanon, Zambia, and Kenya—Kids Alive partners with local communities, governments, and leaders to create environments where children are protected, their voices are heard, and healing can begin.
Through an integrated approach, Kids Alive helps restore bonds that mend, strengthens access to justice that heals, and equips children with skills that matter for a stronger future. From the moment a child is identified as vulnerable to the long-term process of healing and growth, the focus remains the same: ensuring each child is safe, valued, and equipped to move forward with dignity and hope.
At the heart of this work is a belief that every child is created with inherent dignity and worth, and that when justice is pursued with care and compassion, restoration is possible.
Pucallpa, Peru — Justice and child protection leaders from across the Ucayali region recently gathered for a trauma-informed care workshop designed to strengthen how children and families affected by violence are supported within the justice system.
Hosted in collaboration with Kids Alive Peru, International Justice Mission (IJM), and the Peruvian Superior Court of Justice, the gathering brought together 38 professionals from across the justice, protection, and mental health sectors — including judges, prosecutors, public defenders, police officers, psychologists, and the President of the Superior Court of Justice in Ucayali. By convening key decision-makers and frontline practitioners in the same space, the workshop created an opportunity to deepen collaboration and equip leaders with tools to provide more compassionate, coordinated responses for children who have experienced trauma.
One of the themes that resonated strongly among participants was the importance of caring for those who care for others. Professionals who accompany survivors of violence often carry immense emotional pressure and demanding workloads. Through guided exercises and discussion, participants explored how strengthening their own well-being can help ensure that the children and families they serve receive empathetic, thoughtful support.
Karen Salgado, Coordinator of KAI Lighthouse Hope Center in Pucallpa.
During the workshop, justice and protection leaders talked about how improved coordination across institutions can reduce unnecessary procedures and prevent children from reliving painful experiences during investigations and legal processes. These conversations highlighted the importance of trauma-informed practices that prioritize dignity, emotional safety, and timely access to justice.
“Bringing together leaders from across the justice and protection system demonstrates a shared commitment to strengthening how children are supported in our region,” said Marlene Arroyo, Country Director of Kids Alive Peru. “When judges, prosecutors, defenders, and mental health professionals work in closer coordination and understand the impact of trauma, the system can respond with greater care, clarity, and compassion for every child seeking protection.”
For many participants, a reflective exercise during the workshop stood out as a meaningful moment. Justice operators were invited to evaluate their own well-being and consider how the pressures of their daily work affect their ability to accompany survivors. The activity underscored the importance of ensuring that those responsible for protecting children also receive support, training, and spaces for renewal.
Kids Alive Peru regularly works alongside government institutions and community partners to strengthen the systems designed to protect children. By building relationships across the justice, protection, and mental health sectors, initiatives like this workshop help create a more coordinated network of care — one that reduces gaps between institutions and helps ensure that children receive the support and protection they deserve.
Participants left the gathering with a renewed commitment to trauma-informed approaches that place children’s well-being at the center of every process. As collaboration continues to grow among institutions in Ucayali, leaders expressed hope that these shared efforts will lead to more compassionate responses and more effective protection for children across the region.
About Kids Alive International
Kids Alive International is a global organization committed to walking alongside children and families through prevention, advocacy, and care. Founded in 1916, Kids Alive partners with local communities, governments, and institutions to strengthen systems that protect children and support long-term healing.
In Peru, Kids Alive operates through Niños a la Vida, working in close collaboration with justice system partners to support children affected by sexual violence. Through legal advocacy, therapeutic care, and capacity-building with professionals, Kids Alive Peru helps create safer pathways for children to access justice while prioritizing dignity, restoration, and hope.
Across all the countries where Kids Alive serves, the organization remains focused on building sustainable, locally led solutions that protect children, strengthen families, and contribute to healthier communities.
Inspired to be part of this movement for justice that heals? Learn more and explore ways to get involved at www.kidsalive.org/ways-to-give.
For media inquiries, interviews, or more information about news stories like this one, please contact us at news@kidsalive.org.
Beirut, Lebanon — March 2026 — As conflict escalates across Lebanon, families in the communities where Kids Alive serves are navigating daily uncertainty while leaning on one another for support and stability.
Bombings in several regions have disrupted daily life across the country. Schools have closed, travel between cities has become difficult, and many families are staying indoors as they wait and hope for peace. In some neighborhoods, families have opened their homes to relatives fleeing heavily targeted areas in the south.
Within these communities, local staff, families, and supporters are working together to ensure children continue receiving care and encouragement during an unsettling time.
In southern Lebanon, the Kids Alive New Horizons Center has temporarily paused operations due to heavy bombing in the region. Even so, staff remain in close contact with students and families by phone, checking on their safety and wellbeing whenever possible.
In Beirut, where Kids Alive operates the Dar El Awlad school, residential program, and a women’s ministry, teams are adjusting day by day as conditions continue to change.
Earlier this week, after several days of closure, staff gathered to consider whether reopening the Dar El Awlad school might offer children a small sense of normalcy during a frightening and uncertain season. Together they decided to reopen the school for a shortened day so students and staff could return home safely before potential evening strikes.
For many students, simply walking back into the classroom was emotional. Teachers could see the weight of the past week written on their faces. Some students struggled to focus as they processed the events unfolding around them.
One student quietly voiced what many were feeling:
“Why should we study if we might die soon?”
Teachers and staff spent time encouraging students and listening to their fears, reminding them that their lives and futures matter deeply even in the middle of uncertainty.
But the moment of normalcy did not last long. That night, heavy attacks struck across Beirut. By the following morning, the school made the difficult decision to close again to ensure the safety of both students and staff.
Moving forward, the team will continue assessing conditions day by day, carefully weighing whether it is safe to reopen the school. Their hope is to welcome children back whenever possible — offering not only education, but a place where students can feel safe, supported, and cared for during a deeply uncertain time.
As displacement increases, many families in the community have opened their modest homes to relatives fleeing from targeted areas. In response, Kids Alive has helped secure apartments for several displaced families, including support for alumni families who were forced to relocate.
Local organizations are also coming together to respond to the growing needs. Earlier this week, several faith-based organizations gathered at the Kids Alive center in Beirut to discuss how they can collaborate to support displaced families and strengthen community response efforts.
“Our communities are showing incredible strength in the middle of very difficult circumstances,” said Denise Dagher, Country Director for Kids Alive Lebanon. “Families are opening their homes to one another, and our staff are doing their best to support children who are scared and uncertain about what tomorrow will bring. We are grateful for the prayers and support from around the world that allow us to stand with these families and continue serving our community.”
As the situation continues to evolve, the Kids Alive team remains focused on the safety of children and staff, maintaining food and essential supplies for families, and supporting households navigating displacement and uncertainty.
Leaders are asking supporters around the world to continue praying for protection over children and families in Lebanon, for wisdom for caregivers and teachers supporting children through fear and uncertainty, and for peace across the region.
Those who would like to support children and families during this time can do so by contributing to the Lebanon ministry response. Gifts will help provide food assistance, support displaced families, and ensure children in Kids Alive programs continue receiving care and encouragement during this difficult season.
Support for the Lebanon response can be given by clickingHERE.
About Kids Alive International
Kids Alive International is a Christ-centered global organization dedicated to helping children, families, and communities move from trauma to triumph and lasting transformation. Working in multiple countries around the world, Kids Alive partners with local leaders to provide trauma-responsive care, strengthen families, expand access to restorative education, and advocate for justice for children who have experienced abuse, exploitation, and other forms of harm. Through programs focused on Justice Advocacy, Family Strengthening, Protective Care, and Restorative Education, Kids Alive works to address both the immediate needs of children and the deeper systems that impact their safety and wellbeing.
In Lebanon, Kids Alive serves children and families through the Dar El Awlad school and residential program, the New Horizons community center in southern Lebanon, and a Women’s Ministry program that supports mothers and families in vulnerable communities. Together with local staff and community partners, Kids Alive Lebanon works to provide safe spaces for children to learn, heal, and grow while supporting families navigating complex social and economic challenges.
Inspired to be part of this movement for justice that heals? Learn more and explore ways to get involved at www.kidsalive.org/ways-to-give.
For media inquiries, interviews, or more information about news stories like this one, please contact us at news@kidsalive.org.
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