At the heart of Spain’s efforts to make justice systems safer and more responsive for children, the European Union-Council of Europe joint project “Strengthening child-friendly justice among Barnahus-type services in Spanish regions” has delivered a new set of practical tools to reinforce the Barnahus model nationwide.
The project’s Advisory Group meeting in Madrid on 12 November 2025, adopted a Guide for Journalists promoting ethical and child-sensitive reporting on cases of violence against children, including sexual violence. It includes practical recommendations and checklists to ensure that media coverage of these cases prevent secondary victimisation. The Guide, currently available in Spanish, can be translated and adapted to other national contexts.
The Advisory Group also adopted an updated Mapping Study on the implementation of the Barnahus model in Spain, and a Baseline report on the implementation of National and Regional Roadmaps on Barnahus.
Following the endorsement, these new resources were presented at a public event hosted by the Ministry of Youth and Childhood in Madrid, which brought together around 30 participants in person, including high-level authorities, civil society, academics and media professionals, and reached 284 additional viewers via live streaming, allowing for broad participation.
In his opening remarks, Rubén Pérez Correa, State secretary at the Ministry of Youth and Childhood, underlined that “with these resources, we are strengthening the implementation of the Barnahus model throughout the territory: unified intervention, tailored justice, and comprehensive protection. It is a commitment to preventing revictimisation, minimising secondary victimisation, and creating a system where rights are the foundation of every step”.
The Project is co-funded by the European Union via the Technical Support Instrument, and implemented by the Council of Europe, in co-operation with the European Commission, Reform and Investment Task Force (SG REFORM), and in collaboration with the Spanish Ministry of Youth and Childhood and Ministry of the Presidency, Justice and Relations with Parliament.
Resources in Spanish
Calls for Tenders
