To some extent, the criminal process can lead to neglect the needs, rights and guarantees of the victims. This in itself is worrying, but when it comes to child victims, the issue becomes even more ...complex. Due to their position of special vulnerability, underage victims have a higher risk of developing permanent sequelae that could have negative repercussions on their emotional, social and cognitive development. In response to this problem, the Barnahus model emerged as an integral system of intervention and justice for underage victims, which quickly spread throughout Europe. By 2020, Spain would establish the Barnahus pilot Project in Tarragona with the intention of continuing to spread the Nordic system across the country. By therefore, the characteristic features and benefits of the use of this kind of system are identified, as well as possible problems that could obstruct its extension process in the national context.
El proceso penal puede suponer, en cierta medida, un abandono de las necesidades, los derechos y las garantías de las víctimas. Esto en sí es preocupante, pero cuando hablamos de las víctimas menores de edad, la problemática alcanza mayores niveles de complejidad. Debido a su posición de especial vulnerabilidad, los menores de edad corren un mayor riesgo de desarrollar secuelas permanentes que pudieran repercutir negativamente en su desarrollo emocional, social y cognitivo. Ante esta problemática, surge el modelo Barnahus como un sistema de intervención y de justicia integral destinado a la infancia y la adolescencia, propagándose con rapidez por el continente europeo. Para el año 2020, se instauró en España el proyecto piloto Barnahus en Tarragona con la intención de continuar implementando el sistema nórdico por todo el país. En virtud de todo ello, se identifican los rasgos característicos y los beneficios reportados por el uso de esta clase de sistema, a la par que se identifican posibles problemáticas que podrían entorpecer su proceso de extensión en el contexto nacional.
The role of medical practitioners in preventing violence is evident; however, it is not as simple as it looks, as medics consider medical assistance and treatment as their primary work mission. At ...the same time, as any other citizen, they are obliged to report violence, thereby helping to prevent it. The methodology employed in this study encompassed a review of legal frameworks and literature, open interviews with medical practitioners, and a meticulous analysis of internal documents and data systems. By synthesizing these methods, the research gained valuable insights into the challenges faced by medical professionals in preventing violence and identified opportunities for enhancing cooperation within the healthcare system. This comprehensive approach facilitated a nuanced exploration of the integration of legislative aspects into the daily routines of medical practitioners to advance the implementation of the Barnahus model in Latvia. The article gives insights into key existing documents and provides a detailed study of the available internal documents, data systems (patients’ electronic cards) and guidelines (recognition, recording and reporting of violence), with a view to understanding the importance of internal processes in order to identify and retain evidence. As regards the integration of legislative aspects into their daily routine, institutions need an effective internal process and guidelines which make it easy to record the fact of violence and evidence during the daily routine of professionals. Emphasis is also placed on increasing the cooperation and prevention role of medical practitioners, so that Latvia can successfully implement the Barnahus model.
Background: Some suspected child victims of physical or sexual abuse undergo dental forensic examinations at child advocacy centers (CACs) in Norway. Their oral health history has not previously been ...studied. Objective: This study aimed to compare oral health history of CAC children to matched children. Additionally, the oral health history of children exposed to sexual abuse was compared to children exposed to physical abuse. Participants and setting: The CAC cohort included 100 children, 3–16 years. The matched cohort, with no known history of abuse, included 63 children. Methods: The retrospective study analyzed registered data in the children's dental records. Results: CAC children were more likely than matched children to have caries experience in both primary and permanent teeth, with incidence rate ratio (IRR) 1.50 (95 % CI 1.01–2.25) and 1.92 (1.11–3.30). "Was Not Brought" to dental appointments was more than twice as likely, IRR 2.25 (1.31–3.86), in the CAC cohort. There were no significant differences in reports to the Child Protection Services or dental traumas. Suspected victims of sexual abuse had more caries, IRR 4.28 (2.36–7.77), and fillings, IRR 4.83 (2.55–9.16), in permanent teeth compared to suspected victims of physical abuse. Conclusions: CAC children were more likely to have caries experience and not show up for dental appointments than the matched children. Sexual abuse suspected had four times more caries experience than physical abuse suspected. This study supports the need for addressing oral health in risk evaluations concerning child abuse, and provides valuable information to dental professionals and prosecuting authorities.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Abstract
The relationship between children's human rights to protection and to what is commonly referred to as ‘participation’ has received significant attention, with many scholars critiquing the ...purported tension between the two approaches and demonstrating how child participation should be a core feature of child protection. Less attention has been paid to the converse and, we argue, essential precursor of participatory protection practice – the significance of the child's right to be protected from harm as a means to ensuring successful child participation. Drawing on the example of the multidisciplinary Barnahus model, this article explores the multifaceted relationship between participation and protection, suggesting that there needs to be greater acknowledgement of the role of collective child participation in delivering the conditions where individual children who have witnessed or experienced violence feel and are safe to express themselves.
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This open access book contributes to ongoing discussions about how societies should respond to children who have experienced violence and abuse by delving into the Barnahus model: a multidisciplinary ...and co-located model whose aim is to provide both justice and recovery to victimised children. The promising model was first implemented in the Nordic region and is currently being diffused across Europe, although scientific knowledge about the model remains scarce: the Barnahus model’s potential for delivering holistic services, the various tensions and dilemmas involved in the model, and how dual mandate of Barnahus can be managed all require further research. Continuing from the volume Collaborating Against Child Abuse (2017) which examined the process of Barnahus’ diffusion in the Nordic countries, the current book digs deeper into the intrinsic institutional tensions of the model, as well as those that might arise during collaboration, in order to advance our understanding of what can be achieved through the model and thus improve the situation of child victims of violence and abuse. An institutional perspective is used in the book which is structured in four parts. The first three parts explore different types of institutional tensions –legal, organisational, and professional-ethical, while the fourth focuses on how these tensions may be balanced. The book’s authors chart this new phase in the diffusion and translation of the Barnahus model. Their analyses will provide valuable guidance to countries that are currently considering or are already implementing the model.
La victimización sexual durante la infancia constituye un problema de elevada frecuencia en nuestro país, que puede tener graves repercusiones para el desarrollo y la salud integral de los niños, ...niñas y adolescentes. En este artículo se presenta una revisión del modelo europeo Barnahus, Las Casas de los Niños, para su posible implementación en nuestro país. Este pionero modelo da respuesta a las problemáticas generadas por la forma de trabajo actual en el proceso de notificación, evaluación y denuncia de la victimización sexual, reduciendo la multiplicidad de pruebas y agentes que intervienen en el caso, promoviendo la formación y coordinación entre los profesionales, eliminando la confusión que generan los diversos protocolos de actuación, protegiendo los derechos del menor y asegurando una intervención adecuada para este y su familia.
The issue of secondary victimisation of children victims of criminal offences because of their participation in the (pre)criminal procedure has long been the subject of discus-sions within the ...victimological community. Protective measures, and legislation reforms related thereto, play a key role in creating a child-friendly justice system, however, they are often too slow, inconsistent, or insufficiently implemented in practice. This discus-sion deals with the development, good practices, and shortcomings of Slovenian legisla-tive solutions in the field of protection of children victims of criminal offences in (pre)criminal procedures.
Zusammenfassung
Bei der Befragung von Kindern, deren Aussage v. a. bei sog. Aussage-gegen-Aussage-Konstellationen, in denen objektives Beweismaterial fehlt (z. B. in Kindesmissbrauchsfällen), von ...zentraler Bedeutung ist, gibt es verschiedene länderspezifische Herangehensweisen, die zum Ziel haben, unter Wahrung der Rechte des Kindes eine möglichst adäquate Beweissicherung der Zeugenaussage zu gewährleisten. Der vorliegende Artikel zeigt einen interkulturellen Vergleich bezüglich Standards der Befragung von kindlichen Zeugen auf. Dabei wird auf die Relevanz von qualitativ hochwertigen Befragungen eingegangen, um zum einen strafrechtlich verwertbare Aussagen sicherzustellen und zum anderen Erinnerungsverzerrungen zu vermeiden. Es wird auf die Problematik von Pseudoerinnerungen eingegangen, bevor anschließend Bemühungen zur Verbesserung des Erinnerungsabrufes dargelegt werden. Dabei werden u. a. zwei wesentliche Wege, die in Großbritannien bzw. in skandinavischen Ländern zur Verbesserung der Qualität von Zeugenaussagen etabliert wurden, näher erläutert. Hierbei handelt es sich um einen strukturierten Interviewleitfaden sowie um ein interdisziplinäres Kompetenzzentrum zur Befragung von kindlichen Zeugen. Abschließend werden hieraus Empfehlungen für die deutsche Praxis abgeleitet.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OBVAL, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
The Constitutional Court ruled that the legal provision in Sexual Violence Prevention and Victims Protection Act recognizing the admissibility of evidence of ‘video recorded Testimony of victims of ...sexual violence under 19 years old’ were unconstitutional. The reason is that the defendant's right to cross-examine is violated through the provision.
Many revised bills have been proposed to eliminate this unconstitutional situation. In particular, the Ministry of Justice submitted a bill that suggested various alternatives based on the ‘Barnahus Model’. The system allows to conduct investigation in child-friendly facilities. To this end, several institutions including law enforcement agencies cooperate with each other “under one roof”. Through Barnahus model, it is possible to prevent a lot of secondary damage to child victims. In addition, the bill intends to investigate victims of child sexual abuse through a investigator with professional qualifications.
On the other hand, ‘procedure for the preservation of evidence’ can be performed by a judge at the investigation stage. It is expected that the defendant's right to cross-examine can be guaranteed through this procedure.
The Constitutional Court's decision has validity, in other words the defendant's right to cross-examine should be guaranteed legitimately. Nevertheless, there are also many problems with the above decision. For instance there is a risk of increasing secondary damage to child victims.
The current legal situation needs to be resolved as soon as possible. There should be a plan to prevent secondary damage to the victim while guaranteeing the defendant's right to cross-examination. In this regard, the recent bill proposed by the Ministry of Justice can be an good alternative. However, it is the time when researches are needed to discover and solve the problems of the bill.
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