Speakers - 2026

Biography

Caroline Vrijens (1975) holds a law degree with a specialisation in International and European Law. She also obtained a postgraduate degree in Social Profit and Public Management. Caroline worked the last three years for an international NGO as an advocacy expert for the target group children in youth care. There she published the report 'Ordinary children in an unusual situation' (SOS Children's Villages, March 2017). She pulled the Leaving Care campaign and developed an innovative project to further deinstitutionalise youth care in Flanders. From 2007 to 2014, she worked as a policy officer within the Flemish government on the implementation of the Integral Youth Aid and worked on participation of children and young people and children's rights. Caroline Vrijens has been the Flemish Commissioner for Children's Rights since 1 August 2019. The Children's Rights Commissioner's Office detects signals from children, young people and professionals. It mediates, investigates complaints and advises the policy (www.kinderrechten.be). In August 2024, Caroline published the book A New World for the Child in collaboration with Borgerhoff & Lamberigts.