The European Barnahus Standards ISPCAN, Hague, 2017 Bragi Guðbrandsson, Director General The Government Agency for Child Protection, Iceland

Context Rooted in Inspired by the Convention on the rights of the Child by the Council of Europe Lanzarote Convention and the Rec. On Child –friendly justice by the EU Directive on Child Sexual abuse and exploitation as well as the Directive on the rights of victims of Crime by the case law of the Court of Human Rights in evidence based practice in forensic interviewing, medical examination and therapeutic services best practices of the existing Barnahus in Europe, as well as Children´s Advocacy Centers in USA collaboration of experts in Europe across different countries practices that are transferable and adaptable to different national context

European Barnahus Standards The first systemic attempt to establish quality standards for child-friendly, multi-agency response to child abuse in the European context Addresses the evidence based components of Barnahus including structured forensic interviews, medical examination and therapeutic services Ensuring necessary flexibility to allow for implementation in diversified social/legal environment with the necessary fidelity required for professional implementation

Reading the standards; keys What is the standard? A description/definition of the standard Why should the standard be met? Addresses the rationale behind the standard Often refers to international laws, knowledge from research or good practices Examples of indicators or other evidence that the standard is met

1.1 Best interest of the child Standard 1 Barnahus 1.1 Best interest of the child General Comments CRC No.14 (2013) 1.2 Right to be heard to and receive information Including support to express views, being listen to, have views taken into account and being informed about decisions taken and to which extent their views have influenced decisions 1.3 Avoiding undue delay The child´s perception of time  

Multidisciplinary and interagency collaboration  Standard 2 Multidisciplinary and interagency collaboration 2.1 Formal status embedded in the child welfare and justice system reflected in legal provisions 2.2 Organization structured collaboration, clear roles and responsibilities 2.3 Process and practice interagency intervention across the continuum of the case

Standard 3 Inclusive target group 3.1 Inclusive and broad definition of target group includes all children who are victims and/or witnesses of crime or may have been traumatized irrespective of form of violence 3.2 Non-discrimination accessible to all children regardless of sex, age, social or economical status, residence etc

STANDARD 4 Child friendly environment 4.1 Place and accessibility 4.2 Interior environment (age appropriate waiting rooms) 4.3 Privacy 4.4 Preventing contact with perpetrator 4.5 Interview room

Standard 5 Interagency case management 5.1 Formal procedures and routines 5.2 Continuous case planning and reviews confidentiality issues (good practice: Denmark) 5.3 Continuous case tracking importance of documentation 5.4 Support person Cps worker, legal advocate etc

Standard 6 Forensic interviews 6.1 Evidence based protocols and practices 6.2 Specialized staff 6.3 Location and recording 6.4 Multidisciplinary and interagency presence 6.5 Respecting defendants rights to a fair trial and equality of arms 6.6 Adopting to the child´s needs

Standard 7 Medical evaluation 7.2 Treatment 7.3 Specialized staff 7.4 Case review and planning 7.5 Information and child participation  

Standard 8 Therapeutic services 8.1 Assessment and treatment 8.2 Specialized staff 8.3 Information and child participation 8.4 Crisis intervention  

Standard 9 Capacity building 9.1 Training of professionals importance of regular training in specific areas of expertise including and joint trainings 9.2 Guidance, supervision and counselling   in relation to individual cases addressing professional and personal strain, ethical dilemmas etc

10.1 Data collection, information sharing and awareness raising Standard 10 PREVENTION  10.1 Data collection, information sharing and awareness raising Research 10.2 External competence building professionals working for and with children