Beyond formal rights: intercultural competences for minors with a migratory background. A research on professional practices in the Italian juvenile justice system

This article explores the role of intercultural competences (IC) within the Italian juvenile justice system, with a focus on professional practices involving minors with a migratory background, including unaccompanied foreign minors (UFM). Drawing on a mixed methods design with a qualitative core, this research investigates how intercultural competences are used in the daily practices of legal professionals, identifies five key thematic areas for managing cultural differences, and defines a professional profile of the intercultural practitioner within the juvenile justice system. The article specifically focuses on this profile, while deferring the presentation of quantitative results and the theoretical model of IC to future publications. Findings reveal that IC are not an isolated technical skill but complex, relational, and situated perspectives that support equity, personalisation, and cultural awareness in decision-making processes. For UFM, these competences prove crucial in transforming formal rights into accessible and meaningful protections. Despite some limitations, this research contributes to pedagogical reflection and offers practical tools for more inclusive and responsive juvenile justice systems.