Multi-disciplinary Interagency Approaches – Barnahus Promoting Justice and Care for Children in Europe

Turid Heiberg

Council of the Baltic Sea States Secretariat

Turid Heiberg is the co-ordinator of the PROMISE project consisting of partners from Council of the Baltic Sea States Secretariat (CBSS), Child Circle, the Verway-Junker Institute, Barnahus in Linköping, Iceland and Stockholm and the Kenter in Netherlands. A group of experts are mentoring the project that aims to encourage the establishment of many countries in Europe. Turid is Head of the Children at Risk Unit in CBSS and she has many years of experience in promoting human rights and children's rights at national and international level.

Bragi Guðbrandsson

General Director, National Child Protection Authority, Iceland

Bragi Guðbrandsson is founder of the Icelandic Barnahus, which inspired all Nordic and European Barnahus. He is Sociologist and former chair of the Lanzarote Committee, Iceland).

Ólöf Ásta Farestveit

Head of the Barnahus, Iceland

Ólöf Ásta Farestveit is head of Barnahus Reykjavik and expert in forensic interviewing of children.

Andrea Goddard

Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Andrea Goddard is a medical doctor with long experience in medical assessment of children victims of violence. Andrea has been supporting the establishment of Barnahus similar services in London.

Janet van Bavel

project-leader Kenter Jeugdhulp, Netherlands

Janet van Bavel has a long career in trauma treatment and youth care and is head of the Academic Workplace on Child Abuse and Neglect in the Netherlands, lead of the MultiDisiplinary Center on tackling Child Abuse and Neglect (MDCK) Hoofddorp with Child And Youth Trauma Center (KJTC) Haarlem; offering children and parents a single location for intake and care; the one stop shop approach.

Gordana Buljan Flander

Director of Child and Youth Protection Center of Zagreb

Professor Gordana Buljan Flander, is the director and initiator of the Child and Youth Protection Center of Zagreb. Gordana is an important advocate for children's rights in Croatia.

Abstract

Turid Heiberg, corresponding author, PROMISE Coordinator and moderator of the symposium PROMISE is an EC funded project promoting multidisciplinary and interagency services for child victims and witnesses of violence. The... [ view full abstract ]

Turid Heiberg, corresponding author, PROMISE Coordinator and moderator of the symposium

PROMISE is an EC funded project promoting multidisciplinary and interagency services for child victims and witnesses of violence. The project has generated a European movement, gathering Government officials and professionals, dedicated to spread the Barnahus (Children’s House) model across Europe. The interest in Barnahus is rooted in its potential to realise children’s rights to protection and child friendly justice. Research demonstrates the positive impact of the model in terms of facilitating coordinated, effective and child friendly assistance and justice for children, while respecting the alleged perpetrator’s right to a fair trial.

The objective of the symposium is to highlight opportunities and constraints in operating Barnahus and similar models aiming to be an integral part of the public and justice systems. Turid Heiberg, moderator, presents the PROMISE project and its achievements as well as PROMISE II. Bragi Guðbrandsson, presents the PROMISE Quality Standards, Ólöf Á Farestveit, introduces lessons learned regarding forensic interviews, and Andrea Goddard presents the medical assessment as an important part of Barnahus. Gordana B Flander, explains the innovations in Croatia regarding financial resources, research, advocacy/media in order to provide services and Janet van Bavel, informs about the Dutch approach in providing integrated services for children.

The Barnahus model is unique since the child victim or witness of violence is received in a child-friendly environment where the needs of the child are placed at the centre. Barnahus gathers all relevant disciplines and agencies under one roof. The interview with the child is recorded and used as evidence in court. Re-traumatisation can be avoided and the child becomes more likely to disclose, which is fundamental to securing the safety, assistance of the child and securing a successful criminal investigation and judicial process.

Authors

Turid Heiberg (Council of the Baltic Sea States Secretariat)
Bragi Guðbrandsson (General Director, National Child Protection Authority, Iceland)
Ólöf Ásta Farestveit (Head of the Barnahus, Iceland)
Andrea Goddard (Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust)
Janet van Bavel (project-leader Kenter Jeugdhulp, Netherlands)
Gordana Buljan Flander (Director of Child and Youth Protection Center of Zagreb)

Topic Area

Multi-disciplinary Interagency Approaches (MDIA) and Child Protection Units [Micromanageme

Session

Symposia17 » Session 3-Multidisciplinary Interagency Approaches (16:15 - Tuesday, 3rd October, Asia Room)

Presentation Files

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