Protecting the rights and interests of children affected by violence – the importance of joint action!

At the initiative of the Chernihiv Public Committee for the Protection of Human Rights and the Juvenile Prevention Department of the Regional Police Department, a round table was held on the topic: “Protection of the rights and interests of children who are participants in criminal proceedings, and the formation of child-friendly justice.”

Representatives of various structural units of the police, prosecutor’s office, courts, the Children’s Service, the Main Directorate of the National Social Service Service in Chernihiv region and the free legal aid system took part in the event.

One of the main tasks is to discuss issues that often remain outside the attention of society – ensuring children’s access to justice and providing them with the necessary assistance.

This applies not only to victims of gender-based violence, of which there are currently many cases. At the moment, Chernihiv region, unfortunately, ranks among the first in terms of the number of cases involving children who have suffered from various types of violence. Such indicators indicate the urgent establishment of actions by all participants in the process. The event also emphasized the importance of timely response to cases of violence against children and the need to create conditions for their protection.

As a separate aspect, we talked about the creation and arrangement of child-friendly “Green Rooms”, which in future work will help in conducting investigative actions using this method. Children who act as witnesses or victims in pre-trial investigation and court proceedings should receive not only legal assistance, but also psychological assistance.

That is why it is important to ensure a sensitive and responsible approach to each case of criminal proceedings. And only through joint efforts can we create a justice system that takes into account their needs and interests.

The project is implemented with the support of the US Embassy in Ukraine