Framework Action Protocol on Child Abuse Warsaw 3rd - 4th March 2011

The Catalan Ombudsman Sindic de Greuges Set up by law in 1984, modified in 1989 stablishing a Deputy for Children Elected by three fifths of the Catalan Parliament Politically and financially independent Supervises the Catalan Autonomous Administration and Local Councils Investigates violations of people’s rights, dealing with complaints and ex officio Deputy Ombudsman for Children’s Rights Annual report and extraordinary reports.

Because of their particular legal and social situation: they do not exercise directly their rights they do not exercise directly their rights they cannot decide by themselves they cannot decide by themselves Why a Deputy for Children? Infància i adolescència

The process protocol Context: Limitations of existing regional protocols Basic objectives: - Improving the detection of abuse - Improving inter-agency coordination - Removing scans at víctimes abuse (minimum intervention principle)

General principles of action - Ensure the best interest of children - Ensure the protection of their rights as victims - Intervene coordinately: shared patterns accepted as valid - Immediate attention to the child avoiding delays - Special attention to detection and communication procss - Minimum necessary intervention to prevent institutional abuse due to unsuitable approaches harmful repetitions

1.Suspicion of sexual abuse or severe phisical abuse: despite indicators have been identified, the diagnosis can not confirm this initial assessment and the certainty of abuse. Without prejudice to possible criminal action, it becomes necessary immediate protection of the child. 2.Severe child abuse cases with certainty of diagnosis: Clear indicators that a child has been severely abused or mistreated. This situation will inevitably lead to the intervention of the child protection system and the immediate protection of the child and the penal system from the very beginning. Situations

Recommendations I -Ensure procedures relating to children as victims or witnesses do not suffer unnecessary delays -Adapt formal language to the child’s age and personal characteristics. -Preserve child’s privacy: the trial should be brought early, assistance be provided to the victims and their families, they can be derived to the Victim Support Office. -Professionals must have a proven expertise : specialized training for professionals working with children are to be promoted in all institutions involved.

Recommendations II -State must provide the means to make possible the timely implementation of the recommendations and ensure the effectiveness of the protocol - The Monitoring Committee of this protocol should meet periodically, and at least annually. -A unified child abuse registry created in order to: -ensure the necessary information to all institutions -improve efficiency in the process of case detection -provide child abuse statistics.

The Catalan Protocol: Signing institutions The Catalan Ombudsman (coordination) Education Department Health Department Social Welfare and Family Department Justice Department Domestic Affairs Department (Police) High Court of Justice of Catalonia Public Prosecutor of the High Court of Justice Spanish Government Delegation in Catalonia

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