1. Sexual Abuse in Iceland and the “Barnahús Project”
Bragi Guðbrandsson, director

2. Social awareness Stage of denial Stage of admittance
Stage of recognition

3. International cooperation
World Congress 1996
European Union
Council of Europe
Regional cooperation
“Children at risk” in the Baltic states

5. Number of cases
Total number of cases 369 which involved 368 children
Average of 123 cases a year.

6. Victims by sex
During the three year period girls were 80,4% and boys 19,6% of alleged victims

7. Victims by age

8. Age of the offender

9. Did child know offender?
Child knew offender ,3%
Child did not know offender 18 6,4%
Not known 49 17,3%

10. Duration of abuse One incident 56,0% Few months 16,7%
A year or more 17,9%
Data missing 9,5%

11. Tracing of cases 369 100% 281 77% 170 46% 146 40% 51 14% 49 13%
Total number
369
100%
CPS
281
77%
Police
170
46%
Prosecution
146
40%
Court cases 51
14%
Convictions 49
13%

12. Tracing of cases cont.’d
Total number of cases 369
CPS %
Referred to police by CPS %

13. Case assessment by CPS Substantiated cases 51%
Unsubstantiated cases 32%
Data missing/unknown 18%

14. Tracing of cases 369 100% 281 77% 170 46% 146 40% 51 14% 49 13%
Total number
369
100%
CPS
281
77%
Police
170
46%
Prosecution
146
40%
Court cases 51
14%
Convictions 49
13%

15. Problems to solve
Lack of cooperation between the different agencies involved; CPS, Police, Prosecution, Medical profession.
Lack of an interdisciplinary approach.
Lack of personell with special training and specialization, especially in conducting investigative interviews

16. Problems to solve cont’d
Absence of appropriate guidelines in work practice
Lack of consideration for the welfare of child victim – multiple interviews by different interviewers in different locations
Lack of appropriate assessment, treatment and support to the child victim and her/his family.

17. Missions of Barnahus
to coordinate the role of the CPS, Police, State Prosecution, Medical Profession and others engaged in the investigation of child sexual abuse
to improve work practices by interdisciplinary cooperation of the different agencies involved
to ensure that the child victim need not be subjected to multiple interviews in different locations by providing a child friendly setting for investigative interviews conducted by a specialized interviewer

18. Missions of Barnahus cont.’d
to ensure that the child victim and family receives appropriate assessment, treatment and support
to enhance specialized and interdisciplinary knowledge on child sexual abuse and mediate that knowledge as appropriate

19. Partners in Barnahus State Police State Prosecution
University Hospital
departments of pediatrics and child psychiatry
Directors of Social Services
CPS in Reykjavik
Police Department in Reykjavik

26. Statistics from Barnahus
Services
Number of Children
Investigative interviews
350 (166)
Assessment/ Therapy
147
Medical examination 73