Project definitions
Right to information
Child
The right to information, as outlined by Art 3 of the Right to Information Directive, consists of the right
of the suspect or accused person to be informed, orally or in writing, in simple and accessible language,
taking into account any particular needs of the suspect, of their procedural rights, namely the right to
access to a lawyer, to any entitlement to free legal advice and the conditions for obtaining such legal
advice, to be informed of the accusation, to interpretation and translation, and to remain silent.
A child is any person below the age of 18 years, as provided by Art 1 of the UN Convention on the
Rights of the Child (CRC). When referring to a child who is a suspect or accused person, the term child
may extend to persons older than 18 in certain cases as established by the EU Directive (EU) 2016/800
of 11 May 2016.
Persons in a situation of vulnerability
Notifications of rights
Oral or written (or both) information of rights provided to the suspect at any relevant stage of the
investigation phase.
Any person who, because of his or her specific situation or circumstances, requires specific care,
attention or assistance.
Letter of rights
In addition to the right to information as per Art 3 of the Right to Information Directive, suspects or
accused persons who are arrested or detained are entitled to a Letter of Rights according to Art 4 of the
same Directive, written in simple and accessible language, in a language they understand, containing
information on the right to access the materials of the case, to have consular authorities and one person
informed, to access urgent medical assistance, to the maximum number of hours they may be deprived
of liberty before being brought before a judicial authority, on challenging the lawfulness of the arrest,
obtaining a review of the detention, or on making a request for provisional release. In some jurisdictions,
it is referred to as Notice of Rights and Entitlement. The letter of rights should be written or explained
in child-friendly language to any child suspect or accused in criminal proceedings.
Interview
Refers to questioning by the police, prosecutor or an investigative judge. It may have the same meaning
as interrogation and questioning in some jurisdictions.
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