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Co-ordinating better child sexual abuse response

The closing conference of a three-year international project to improve responses to child sexual abuse in Ireland will take place at the Alex Hotel in Dublin (Fenian Street) from 9.30am tomorrow (29 January).

The project – co-funded by the 27-member European Union and implemented by the 46-member Council of Europe, in close co-operation with the Irish authorities – aims to strengthen the country’s response to child sexual abuse, to reduce delays in dealing with cases, and to provide victims with child-friendly access to justice.

It is based on the Icelandic “Barnahus” (or Children’s House) model of adopting a co-ordinated, comprehensive and child-friendly approach to criminal and child-welfare investigations in cases of violence against children, including sexual abuse.

Scaling up model

Participants at the conference in Dublin will discuss the key achievements of the project – which include a strategy and action plan for scaling up the Barnahus model in Ireland, the development of training materials on trauma-informed care, and an accompanying communication strategy – along with the next steps needed for their implementation.

Opening speakers will include the Secretary General of Ireland’s Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Kevin McCarthy, the Director for Support to Member States’ Reforms at the EU Commission, Nathalie Berger (via video message), and the Council of Europe’s Roberto Olla.