Research on the Involvement of Child Victims in Legal Procedures

Nelly Petrova-Dimitrova

Social Activities and Practices Institute

Prof. Nelly Petrova-Dimitrova started her academic career in 1981 as a regular phd student at Sofia University. During the coming years she has gradually climbed the academic ladder as a researcher and academic lecturer on social work in the University: from phd candidate to a professor title in 2015. She has more than 80 publication on social pedagogy, social work with children and families at risk, resilience approach. She also participates in international conferences, e.g. World Congress on Juvenile Justice, Geneva 2015 (presentation “Interaction between the Civil Society and Public Authorities on Child-friendly Justice”).She is one of the founders of the Social Activities and Practices Institute, as well as the chair of the managing board. The institute successfully combines theory and practice and provides a space where new integrated services are piloted and if they are proven viаble – advocates for their further application and implementation all over the country. One of the huge achievements is the opening of the first hearing room for child-friendly interrogations in Bulgaria. Now more than 20 rooms exist in the country. Prof, Petrova develops and improves SAPI’s hearing rooms to the integrated service “Zone Protecion” following the Barnahus model.

Nadya Stoykova

Social Activities and Practices Institute

Nadya Stoykova has a phd degree in social work and social pedagogies since 2004. She works both at Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski as a lecturer and at Social Activities and Practices Institute as a trainer, consultant, researcher and project manager. She is also an external educator at the Academy of Ministry of Interior on interrogation of minors and juveniles, victims of violence, consequences of child sexual abuse. As an external educator at the National Justice Institute she teaches the following courses: Forensic psychology, Juvenile interrogation, Rights of the Offended Child, Interrogation of children victims of violence, Consequences of Child Sexual Abuse.Some of her major publications are: Guidance for experts who participate and conduct interviews with children, victims and witnesses of violence (SAPI, 2015); Participation of children, victims and witnesses of violence in legal procedures. Analyses of change. (SAPI, 2013, together with prof. Petrova); Model of an integrated social service in favor of justice (Sofia, 2013); Sexual abuse against children. Research on the phenomenon and the dimension of the violence against children in institutons, (2010, SAPI, together with prof. Petrova).She is also a manager of several projects devoted on the rights of children in judicial and administrative proceedings.

Abstract

Participatory action research On the involvement of children victims or witnesses of crimes in legal procedures Aim: to ascertain the situation of real practice of involving children victims or witnesses of crime in legal... [ view full abstract ]

Participatory action research On the involvement of children victims or witnesses of crimes in legal procedures

Aim: to ascertain the situation of real practice of involving children victims or witnesses of crime in legal procedures and formulate conclusions and recommendations for the mechanism of implementation of the requirements of Directive 2012/29/EU to establish minimum standards for support of victims of crime.

Scientific tasks:

1. To analyze the practice of action of key institutions when a signal for a child victims of violence and crime is received, and to encompass the actions from the moment of signaling to the closure of the case, including the principles of professional ethics.

2. To analyze the attitudes to change of current practice and introducing of child-friendly justice practices

3. To analyze the attitudes towards individual assessment within the meaning of Directive 2012/29/ EU through expectations, use and evaluation

Methodology:

The participating action research is implemented during the conduction of 28 training sessions on "Integrated Approach to Fair Justice" with the participation of over 1,000 social workers, police officers, prosecutors, judges, doctors. The key research questions are formulated in result of the ten pilot trainings of interagency teams from where also originate the leading topics included in the framework of registration: interagency interaction, ethics, development of individual risk assessment and needs according to Article 22 of Directive 2012/29/EU, best practices for the protection of victims of crime and interaction.

The survey registered expressed views, demonstrated expertise, outstanding attitudes, and shared practices during these trainings. The registration happens by the actions of trainers and participants in the discussions on certain training topics (Appendix Training Program) and solving case studies (Appendix № 1, 2, 3).

Key researchers:

Prof. Nelly Petrova-Dimitrova

Mrs Nadya Stoykova, phd

Authors

Nelly Petrova-Dimitrova (Social Activities and Practices Institute)
Nadya Stoykova (Social Activities and Practices Institute)

Topic Area

Voice of the Child

Session

Daily » Poster Sessions (14:00 - Wednesday, 4th October, King Willem Alexander Foyer)

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