Strengthening Human-Centered Care in the Juvenile Justice System

Fundación Acción Joven, Costa Rica

Fundación Acción Joven continues to promote empathy, dignity, and rights-based practices within Costa Rica’s Juvenile Justice System. Through the Proyecto Fénix, the organization led a series of capacity-building workshops for 44 professionals and administrative staff from the Ministry of Justice and Peace’s Alternative Sanctions Program.

During the training sessions, social workers, psychologists, educators, and correctional officers deepened their understanding of essential topics such as violence prevention, human rights, youth-focused approaches, and care for vulnerable populations.

Using participatory and reflective methodologies, the sessions encouraged open dialogue, collaborative learning, and critical thinking about restorative practices versus punitive models.

The process culminated in a symbolic “wall of commitments,” where participants shared personal takeaways and promises for change, writing messages like “More empathy,” “Involve families in the process,” and “Youth are the present.”

With initiatives like these, Fundación Acción Joven continues to strengthen institutional capacity and advocate for a more compassionate, inclusive, and restorative justice system that recognizes the potential of every young person.