Bucharest, March 12, 2024. Alternative Sociale and UNICEF Romania have launched today, March 12, 2024, in Bucharest, the book “Guide for hearing children in court proceedings”, intended for professionals working in the judiciary (judges, prosecutors, police officers) or social services (social workers and psychologists).

During the event, concrete issues related to the implementation of child-friendly justice were discussed, starting from the main contexts in which children are involved: as victim, witness or perpetrator or as interested party/party in a criminal or civil judicial procedure.

Cătălin Luca, Judges Vlad Chifu, Sofia Luca and Daniel Mireuță), who described the relevant national and international legal framework and proposed approaches and working tools centered on the achievement of professionals’ objectives with respect for children’s rights and a reduced negative impact of the proceedings on them.

“Legal proceedings have a considerable impact on children, and where the national legal system lacks child-friendly procedures and practices, children face particular obstacles in trying to exercise their rights. It is therefore important that the best interests of the child, regardless of their identity and regardless of the acts committed, are always taken into account in the justice system and that the judicial and non-judicial system is adapted to the specific rights, needs and interests of the child”, said Prof. Dr. Mona-Maria Pivniceru, Coordinator of the Guide.

“Although children are often involved in court proceedings, it cannot be said that justice is always adapted to their situation. The presence of intimidating frameworks, the lack of information and explanations adapted to the age of the child, the insufficient approach to the concept of family, excessively long or, on the contrary, too expeditious procedures, as well as the lack of standards for their hearing can lead to the violation of guarantees of children’s rights and to their (re)traumatization”, said Psychologist Cătălin Luca, PhD, President of the Association Alternative Sociale.

Justice is child-friendly when it is accessible, age-appropriate, expeditious, expeditious, child-centered, child-focused, and child-focused, respecting the rights of the child, including the right to a fair trial, the right to participate in and understand the proceedings, the right to privacy and family life, and the right to integrity and dignity.

“Children involved in court proceedings – in whatever capacity they are involved – are in a vulnerable position where they need protection from state institutions and professionals in the judicial and child protection system.

The launched guide is an essential and absolutely necessary tool for the respect of children’s rights and their psycho-emotional well-being, produced by leading professionals in a partnership that UNICEF is happy to support”, said Gabriel Vockel, UNICEF Deputy Representative in Romania.

The “Guide for Hearing Children in Criminal and Civil Court Proceedings” was developed by Alternative Sociale within the project “Strengthening the Response and Preparedness of Child Protection Systems to Support Refugees in Ukraine”, supported by UNICEF in Romania. Besides the realization of the Guide the project also included:
– training of 334 social service specialists in the field of prevention, identification, assistance and protection of victims of gender-based violence and violence against children, including 214 specialists from the single number for children 119 from 39 DGASPCs in the country
– training 147 specialists from social services and pre-university education to develop anger management skills in (pre)adolescents;
– training 100 specialists from social services, magistrates and police officers in the field of hearing children in court proceedings;
– mapping the social services available for child and family protection in the counties of Brasov, Constanta, Maramureș, Suceava and Tulcea;
– conducting a study on challenges to accreditation of providers and licensing of social services;
– over 2,400 vulnerable children and adults benefit from the support of specialists trained within the project.

For more information about the project and the event: Mr. Alexandru Gulei, Executive Director of the Association Alternative Sociale (phone: 0721408124, e-mail: agulei@alternativesociale.ro).

About UNICEF
UNICEF works in Romania and 190 other countries and territories to promote the survival and development of children from early childhood through adolescence. In Romania, UNICEF works with key actors such as the Government, Parliament, local authorities, civil society, the private sector, national and international partners and the media to ensure access to quality early childhood education and schooling for all children, to protect adolescents and monitor children’s rights, to provide social protection and to mobilize resources for the benefit of children. For more information about UNICEF and its work, visit https://www.unicef.org/romania/ro.
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