englishfrançaisslovenščina

 What is the project?

The objective of this joint EU Structural Reform Support (DG REFORM) - Council of Europe project is to support Slovenia in establishing and operating their first Barnahus for child victims of sexual abuse in line with international standards and promising European practices.

In close cooperation with the Ministry of justice of the Republic of Slovenia, this will be achieved through a series of activities aimed at reviewing relevant laws and policies, developing interagency strategies, tools and procedures, training professionals working with children and raising public awareness of child sexual abuse in Slovenia during the period of 2019-2022.

The project is a second phase to the joint EU DG REFORM-CoE project “Feasibility Study for setting up Barnahus” (2018-2019) and builds on its results.

 What is Barnahus?

Barnahus (Children’s House) is the leading European response model for child sexual abuse. 

Its unique interagency approach brings together all relevant services under one roof to avoid re-victimisation of the child and provide every child with a coordinated and effective response that has a legal standing. The core purpose of Barnahus is to coordinate parallel criminal and child welfare investigations and provide support services for child victims and witnesses of violence in a child-friendly and safe environment.

 News

Back Slovenian representatives visit Barnahus in Reykjavik and exchange experience on addressing child sexual abuse

Representatives of Slovenian authorities visit Barnahus in Reykjavik

Representatives of Slovenian authorities visit Barnahus in Reykjavik

On 24 May 2022, representatives from the Slovenian Barnahus, the Slovenian Ministry of Justice and the Slovenian Police visited the Barnahus in Reykjavik, Iceland. The purpose of the visit was to exchange experience and knowledge on the implementation of the Barnahus model to address child sexual abuse by coordinating parallel criminal and social welfare investigations in a child-friendly and safe environment, following the launching of the first Barnahus of Slovenia in May 2022, which was possible through the support of the EU Reform – Council of Europe joint project “Support the implementation of Barnahus in Slovenia - phase II”, in coordination with the Norway Grants.

Following the visit to the Reykjavik Barnahus premises, the Slovenian partners met with representatives of the Icelandic Ministry of Education and Children. The discussion centred around the new law regulating the protection of children’s rights in Iceland and the Barnahus law of Slovenia adopted in 2021. Ms Silja Stefánsdóttir, Legal Adviser at the Icelandic Ministry of Education and Children, stressed that Iceland has pledged to become the best country for children to live in and they are moving in that direction. She also mentioned that the economic return in investing in children is higher than the one on the Icelandic pension fund. Mr Andrej del Fabro, from the Slovenian Ministry of Justice, presented the process of drafting and adoption of the Barnahus law in Slovenia and expressed sincere wishes for long-term co-operation to continue to promote excellence in the matter.

The Icelandic government is a pioneer in implementing the Barnahus model, being the first country in Europe to introduce it as a public independent agency and having applied the model for over 23 years. Consequently, the Icelandic counterparts were able to provide the Slovenian stakeholders with great insight and in-depth knowledge of the history and implementation dynamics of the model, and to share good practices and potential gaps.

Barnhaus Slovenia Reykjavik 25 May 2022
  • Diminuer la taille du texte
  • Augmenter la taille du texte
  • Imprimer la page

 What do we aim to achieve?

The project supports the setup of the operational and organisational framework of Barnahus in line with the National Guidelines for Barnahus in Slovenia (2018) and the implementation of the recommendations set forth by the Roadmap towards establishing, operating and evaluating Barnahus in Slovenia (2018).

                    

Strengthened legal, policy and institutional framework

Strengthened legal, policy and institutional framework

Improved skills and professional capacities

Improved skills and professional capacities

Increased awareness of child sexual abuse

Increased awareness of child sexual abuse

 What are the main project deliverables?

 Who do we work with?

The project is implemented with financial support of the European Union via the Structural Reform Support Programme and in cooperation with the European Commission's Directorate General for Structural Reform Support (DG REFORM). It is carried out in close cooperation with the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Slovenia and other members of the Interagency Working Party (established by a Government decree in 2017), including:

 Who benefits from the project?

The project targets national and local authorities as well as professionals who are in direct contact with children and/or deal with child sexual abuse cases.

Ultimately the project intends to support children at risk, child victims and/or witnesses of sexual abuse.

 Videos

"Keep me safe", Icelandic Barnahus model

Bragi Guðbrandsson’s message at the Project's Closing conference

 

 Follow us