A roundtable discussion on the protection of children affected by war and violence was held in Chernihiv

At the initiative of the Chernihiv Public Committee for the Protection of Human Rights, a round table was held at the Main Directorate of the National Police in Chernihiv region on the topic: “Ensuring access to justice for children. Standards of child-friendly justice”.

The event was attended by investigators of the Main Directorate of the National Police in Chernihiv region, judges of the Bakhmatskyi district court of Chernihiv region and the Desnyanskyi district court of Chernihiv city, a practical psychologist who is included in the register of the Coordination Center for the Provision of BPD, lawyers and public activists.

The purpose of the meeting was to directly discuss the status of obtaining children’s rights within the framework of criminal proceedings. Unfortunately, Chernihiv region is one of the leaders in Ukraine in terms of the number of criminal proceedings in which children participate as victims of violence.

Head of Programs of the Chernihiv Public Committee for the Protection of Human Rights

Natalia Kulikova

emphasized the need to ensure access to justice for children who are participants in criminal proceedings. This applies to both the involvement of lawyers for defense and psychologists in criminal proceedings for child victims and witnesses in order to comply with the best interests of the child.

One of the important aspects of the meeting was the consideration of International Standards of Child-Friendly Justice, a report on which was made by the judge of the Bakhmatskyi District Court of Chernihiv region

Pavlo Parkhomenko

.

Psychologist, family consultant and Gestalt therapist Svitlana Yushchenko spoke about the possibilities of involving a psychologist in criminal proceedings and the preparation of conclusions by a psychologist.

Svitlana Yushchenko
. The expert emphasized how to properly involve a psychologist through the coordination center for providing free legal aid when the case involves children.

The participants of the meeting also discussed practical issues and problems that arise in investigations with child victims/witnesses, procedural issues of involving specialists and the problem of the lack of psychologists in districts/communities.

Since today one of the problematic issues is the premises in which investigators can conduct interviews/interrogations of children, the representative of the Chernihiv Public Committee for the Protection of Human Rights emphasized the need for cooperation with communities, public and international organizations, and spaces where they are already open. In addition, the participants discussed the possibility of holding such events on the basis of public organizations.

The project “Enhancing Access to Justice in War-Affected Communities of Chernihiv Oblast” is implemented by the NGO “Chernihiv Public Committee for the Protection of Human Rights” under the technical administration of ISAR Unity and assistance of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Ukraine with the financial support of the European Union provided within the framework of the project “EU4Recovery – Empowering Communities in Ukraine”.