The Centre for Children’s Rights Studies Celebrates its 10th Anniversary
A decade of research, teaching and innovation
The Centre for Children’s Rights Studies (CCRS) celebrated its 10th anniversary on 6 and 7 November, marking a decade of pioneering work in interdisciplinary research, teaching and innovation in the field of children’s rights. Created in 2015 at the University of Geneva, with the support of the Canton of Valais, the Fondation universitaire Kurt Bösch and the City of Sion, the CIDE has since become a leading reference in Switzerland and internationally.
Two distinct events were organised to mark this milestone: one in Sion, where the Centre is based, and one in Geneva, in a more academic setting.
On November 6th a roundtable brought together members of the CCRS community, past and present, including:
- Karl Hanson, Director of the CCRS
- Jean Zermatten, founder of the International Institute for the Rights of the Child
- Jean-Dominique Vassalli, former Rector of the University of Geneva
- Sarah Zerika, PhD assistant at the CCRS
- Evelyne Deiri, representative of the CCRS Students’ Association
Moderated by Élisabeth Logean, journalist and producer at RTS, the discussion offered a rich intergenerational exchange on achievements, lessons learned, and the future of children’s rights research.
The evening also featured a thematic talk by Frédéric Darbellay (Deputy Director), exploring the encounter between artificial intelligence and cultural heritage.
A highlight of the event was the presentation of the Roboclette by Nicolas Fontaine (Workshop 4.0) and Eddy Baillifard, the iconic “king of raclette.”
A live demonstration and a festive aperitif closed the celebration.
On 7 November, the celebrations continued in Geneva with a high-level academic conference bringing together leading international scholars to reflect on interdisciplinarity in children’s rights research and on the evolving challenges in the field.
Speakers included:
- Karl Hanson, Director, Centre for Children’s Rights Studies
- Tatek Abebe, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (Norway)
- Marieke Hopman, Maastricht University (The Netherlands)
- Jonathan Josefsson, Linköping University (Sweden)
- Ton Liefaard, Leiden University (The Netherlands)
Throughout the day, the speakers explored how interdisciplinary approaches enrich our understanding of children’s rights, how academic fields can better collaborate, and what futures lie ahead for research, policy and practice. The conference gathered numerous researchers, students and civil society representatives, creating a vibrant space for exchange and forward-looking reflection.
This anniversary not only honoured the past ten years of achievements; it also reaffirmed the CIDE’s commitment to building a unique space for research, teaching and innovation dedicated to children and their rights, in Switzerland and beyond.
25 nov. 2025