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Roundtable with central public authorities and institutions

Part of A3 – Organizing 3 round tables with local and central authorities on how to prevent retraumatizing children, victims of violence and sexual abuse, by using the Barnahus model; 3 such round tables have been organized in Bucharest, Iasi and Timisoara.

On 2 June 2022, a round table event was organized in Bucharest, during which several professionals were able to discuss about good practice examples and the handling of cases of sexual abuse and violence against children.

The event was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Justice, National Authority on the protection of Child Rights and Adoption, Buftea Court, Prosecutor’s Office attached to Bucharest Court, General Police Directorate of Bucharest Municipality, General Child Welfare and Protection Directorates of districts 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 and the Bucharest Bar.

A round table was organized on 10 November 2022 in Iasi, attended by representatives of the Iasi General Child Welfare and Protection Directorate, Iasi Forensic Institute, Prosecutor’s Office attached to Iasi Court, Criminal Investigation Service of Iasi County Police Inspectorate, Iasi County Resource and Educational Support Center, Iasi Bar, as well as representatives of various NGOs operating in the field of preventing violence against children across Iasi County.

On 24 November 2022, we organized the third round table in Timisoara. This event was attended by representatives of Timis General Child Welfare and Protection, Timisoara Welfare Directorate, National Agency against human trafficking – Timisoara Regional Center, Timis Probation Service, Guardianship Authority, Timisoara Mayoralty, Timisoara Antidrug National Agency, Timis County Police Inspectorate, Prosecutor’s Office attached to Timis Court, Timisoara Bar, Timis Court, Timis County Resource and Educational Support Center, Timisoara Child Neuropsychiatric Clinic, as well as by representatives of NGOs operating in the field of preventing violence against children across Timis county.

The discussions conducted during all 3 round table events focused on both current challenges experts are facing, as well as good practices observed during prior cases.

We also discussed about the Barnahus model, as a method to tackle the retraumatization and revictimization of children victims of sexual abuse and violence, and about how it may be adapted to the Romanian judiciary system.

The organization of these round table events was aimed at raising awareness and promoting human rights, child rights and the benefits of implementing the Barnahus model. The events encouraged the replication nation-wide of the Barnahus model, already implemented in Bucharest.