This project forms part of the ongoing collaboration with the Norwegian Police to implement Barnahus projects in EEA Norway grant countries.
About
The project supports the ongoing process in Lithuania to integrate the Barnahus under the into the structure of State Child Rights Protection and Adoption Service (CP Service) from 1 January 2025.
The aim of the project to develop and implement the Barnahus model adapted to the Lithuanian legal, procedural and socio-economic context, including ensuring progress towards high quality services, implemented in line with the Barnahus Quality Standards. The aim of the project is further to raise awareness and buy-in of the judicial system, and other relevant sectors, such as the health sector.
The five main activities include:
Evaluation of the existing Barnahus model in Lithuania
An evaluation of the current model, including a specific focus on the legal and procedural context in which the model will be implemented, and the current service implementation. The evaluation will present recommendations as to how the Barnahus can be adapted to the national legal, procedural context, while still practicing according to the Barnahus quality standards.
National Roundtables, in preparation and follow up to study visit
A national roundtable will be organised before and after the study visit, involving a multidisciplinary group of officials, decision-makers and practitioners in all partner countries participating in the study visit.
Study Visits to Barnahus in Slovenia and Norway
The project includes study visits to Barnahus in Slovenia and Norway to learn from already existing and well-established practice, and to explore how Barnahus can be adapted to the Lithuanian context, involving key stakeholders from relevant Ministries, other national authorities including child rights protection, social welfare, police, prosecution, and judges.
Trainings
This project further provides trainings of professionals in child investigative interviews, including Avatar training, and in adapted protocols for explorative interviews and psychological evaluation.
Technical Support
This project provides technical support to the project partners, through targeted interventions, including peer-to-peer exchange, small group 1-1 mentoring, technical guidance, including “how to”, factsheets, and templates adapted to the needs of the partners. Partners may benefit from up to 10 days of technical support.
Background
There is ample evidence that children are often drawn into parallel investigations, moving between different agencies and disciplines, including law enforcement, social services, and medical and mental health services.
Unless relevant agencies work together, children can become exposed to segmented, repetitious and intimidating experiences, which can lead to stress, hinder disclosure and cause (re)traumatisation.
This is a serious problem. It violates children’s rights to be heard and receive information. Moreover, the victim’s disclosure is fundamental to ensuring an effective and child-friendly criminal investigation, judicial process, child protection and interventions for recovery for child victims and witnesses of violence. Barnahus (Icelandic for “Children’s House”) is recognised as a leading child-friendly, multdisciplinary and interagency model responding to child victims and witnesses of violence that incorporates the above elements. For more info about Barnahus, click here.
Our role
The CBSS and the Barnahus Network will be delivering trainings and study visit in close collaboration with the Norwegian Police Directorate, in accordance with the established MoU. The CBSS will further support countries with guidance to arrange their national consultations and to continue on their journey to Barnahus.
Partners
Ministry of Social Security and Labour of the Republic of Lithuania
State Child Rights Protection and Adoption Service under the Ministry of Social Security and Labour
National Court Administration, Lithuania
CBSS Children at Risk in collaboration with the Barnahus Network
Funding
The project is funded by EEA Norway Grants. It is made possible in part due to the memorandum of understanding between the Norwegian Police Directorate and the Council of the Baltic Sea States in its role as the host of the Barnahus Network.
Duration
Sep 2024 – April 2025
Contact
Olivia Lind Haldorsson, Senior Adviser and Head of the CBSS Children at Risk Unit,
Phone: +46 73 056 45 92
Email: [email protected]