Presentation of Barnahus model in Bussels
On 14.06. 2017 in Brussels held a Barnacus model meeting. The Social Activities and Practices Institute manages 2 services in Bulgaria - Zone Protection - Shumen and Montana, and Animus Association - in Sofia, in partnership with Unicef - Bulgaria.
European Barnahus standards are the first European experience to define the principles of interventions and services, called the Barnahus model. The main objective of the standards is to provide a common operational and organizational framework that promotes practices that prevent retraining, while providing valid evidence of the court and respecting children's rights to protection, assistance and fairness.
Barnahus is a specialized service for child victims of violence, mostly sexual. It is integrated and multidisciplinary, as it includes medical review by a team (gynecologist, pediatrician and nurse), criminal interview (judicial and revealing), psychological assessment, family counseling, therapy. It is located in a relatively central residential area with convenient public transport. Nowhere is it indicated that this is Barnahus. Only services for child victims of violence, mostly sexual, are offered in the center. There are different furnishings for little and bigger children, suitable waiting rooms for parents and furnishings. Hearing rooms themselves are furnished less scrupulously so as not to provoke fantasies in children and thus to compromise the evidence. The interview is done by a trained psychologist. There is a videocamera and room audio in which a judge, a prosecutor, a lawyer, a social worker, a defender of the potential perpetrator, a police representative watch the screen interview, and may ask questions to ensure the principles of "equal weapons" "Fair trial". This system has no internet connection. Interviewers themselves are always different from therapists.