A multidisciplinary group of Azerbaijani officials and experts undertook a study visit to Slovenia on 20-21 October 2026 to explore the Barnahus model. The delegation included representatives of several national institutions working in child protection, reflecting the interagency approach at the core of the Barnahus model.
The programme began at the Children’s House (Barnahus) in Ljubljana, where participants learned about Slovenia’s legal reform that enabled adoption of the Barnahus Act and subsequent operationalization of the Barnahus model in Slovenia. Mag. Andrej Del Fabro, Head of the Child Friendly Justice Department at the Ministry of Justice, and Robert Tekavec, Head of the Juvenile Crime Division of the Slovenian police, presented the legal and institutional framework. Ana Šutar, Director of the Children’s House, then presented its work and guided the delegation through the premises, giving participants a close look at how a child-friendly facility is designed and run.
The delegation was also welcomed to the Ministry of Justice by Nina Kozelj, Director-General of Punitive Law and Human Rights Directorate, Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Slovenia who has responsibility for the Children’s House, where they took part in a discussion and feedback session.
On the second day, the delegation travelled to Koper to see how the Barnahus model works in practice across the wider justice and child protection systems. Hosted by the Local Court in Koper, participants heard from the local State Prosecutor, on cooperation between the prosecution service and the Children’s House, and from the President of the local court on cooperation between Slovenian courts and the Children’s House. A tour of the court premises gave a practical sense of how child-sensitive procedures are applied. Presentations by a representative of the Social Work Centre in Koper on child protection procedures in abuse cases, and by the Criminal Investigation Inspector at the Koper Police Directorate, on the role of the police in detecting and investigating child abuse, completed the picture of how each agency contributes to a coordinated response.
The study visit went beyond knowledge sharing, creating opportunities for meaningful professional exchange and practical learning between Azerbaijani and Slovenian specialists. Hearing directly from the justice, prosecution, police and social work professionals who make the model work was particularly relevant to Azerbaijan, which is developing its own approaches to child protection. Participants also gained a clear understanding of the role a dedicated legal framework, such as the Barnahus Act, plays in sustaining interagency cooperation.
Beyond procedures, the visit sparked a spirit of collaboration. By building new professional partnerships, it created a platform for continued cooperation between Azerbaijani and Slovenian specialists in strengthening the fight against child abuse and promoting safe, supportive environments for child victims of abuse.