Child Protection Centre of Zagreb Protection of sexually abused children: from practice to policy

1. Child Protection Centre of Zagreb Protection of sexually abused children:from practice to policy Gordana Buljan Flander, Ph.D. REGIONAL CONFERENCE Stopping sexual violence against children – ratifying and implementing the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse Zagreb, 27 - 28 october 2011

2. The problem of child sexual abuse was first tackled some 15-20 years ago in Croatian public • This resulted in: • Increased public awareness of the problem • Growing number of the reports of the abuse

3. In the inital phase the greatestengagement was carried out by NON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS (NGOs) Problems: • Insufficient co-operation between the NGOs themselves • Inefficient co-operation with the institutions of the system

4. NGO Brave Phone • Helpline for abused and neglected children • Public actions, brochures and leaflets for parents and professionals, co-operation with the media • “blowing off the lid” effect

5. 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 1997. 1998. 1999. 2000. 2001. 2002. average number of calls per week Increase of calls directed to Brave Phone (1997-2002)

6. Initial surveys in Croatia: Prevalence of the abuse (2001.)

7. WHAT WE’VE ENCOUNTERED? • CHILDREN HAVE SPOKEN OUT • INSUFFICIENT NUMBER OF MENTAL HEALTH PROFESIONALS IN GENERAL • INSUFFICIENT NUMBER OF PROFESIONALS TRAINED IN WORKING WITH SEXUALLY ABUSED CHILDREN • INEFFICIENT CO-OPERATION BETWEEN THE INSTITUTIONS • LACK OF UNDERSTANDING OF THE ROLE OF OTHER PROFESSIONALS INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS

8. The City of Zagreb has recognized the importance of the problem as well as the need for providing help to traumatized children • Child Protection Centre of Zagreb, the first institution specialized in working with traumatized children, was opened by the end of 2002 • Permanent solution within the system

9. NGO Brave Phone – helpline for abused and neglected children within the Child Protection Centre

10. In the Fall 2011 Child protection Centre relocated to new, bigger, more appropriate and more children friendly premises

11. Multidisciplinary team Today: • 9 psychologists • 4 psychiatrists • paediatrician • 2 social workers • 3 social pedagogs • jurist • 6 nurses

12. Goals of the multidisciplinary approach • Efficient assessment of needs and difficulties of each child • Planning the optimal treatment that will ensure recovery and healthy development of each child

13. Primary functions of the Child Protection Centre Diagnostics and treatment of children and their families Multidisciplinary approach and supervision Education Research and scientific work Publishing and raising public awareness

14. Working with sexually abused children • Diagnostics • Therapy • Support • Working with the non-abusive parent

15. Number of children reffered to the Centre Approximately 1000 new refferals per year 7-12% sexually abused

16. Since its foundation in 2002 up today 8500 children have been assessed in the Child Protection Centre of Zagreb

17. Research on child sexual abuse and exposure to sexual content (in collaboration with Brave Phone)

18. Prevalence of abuse and other traumatic experiences in childhood (N= 4191). • Exposure of children and youth to the Internet content (N=4000). • Attitudes and knowledge of physicians in Croatia related to child abuse and neglect (N=600) • Habits and experiences of children and youth during the use of Internet, mobile phones and other modern technologies (N=2700).

19. Prevalence of sexual abuse (2006; N=4190)

20. Certain experiences of children and youth while using Internet (ages 11-18, N=2700) • 41% were asked intimate questions • 39% received request to photograph themselves in a sexualized manner and send a photo • 6% took sexualized photograph of themselves and sent it as requested • 31% received some intimate photos • 37% went alone to meet the person they met on the Internet

21. Training the professionals of co-operative institutions In collaboration with relevant ministries and the Government of Republic of Croatia, Child Protection Centre of Zagreb trains professionals from various fields • social welfare • health • education • police • legal system • NGO sector • Family centres

22. Topics related to child sexual abuse • Understanding the phenomenon of child sexual abuse • Short-term and long-term consequences of child sexual abuse • Initial contact wth sexually abused child – What happens when the child discloses? • Forensic intervju with children – specifics regarding age and characteristics of a child

23. Topics related to child sexual abuse (continued) • Support for the sexually abused child and post-abuse interventions • Assessment and treatment of sexually abused child • Support for the non-abusive parent • Professional and personal challenges and ethical dilemmas in working with sexually abused children

24. Publishing activity and raising public awareness

25. Publications of the Child Protection Centre in collaboration with the City of Zagreb • Free of charge for parents, children and professionals • 15 publications • 221 000 copies printed and distributed • Also available on the Child Protection Centre’s website www.poliklinika-djeca.hr

26. Publications of the Child Protection Centre regarding child sexual abuse • 25 questions (and answers) for professionals working with abused and neglected children • Sexual development of the child • Child and the trauma (leaflet) • It’s happend – What now? – leaflets for the parents of sexually abused children

27. It’s happened, what now…?Leaflets for the parents of sexually abused children • Signs and consequences of child sexual abuse • Myths and facts about sexual abuse and sexual abusers • Treatment of the sexually abused child • Family support of the sexually abused child • Most frequent questions parents ask

28. Child Protection Centre of Zagreb Educational centrefor the students of: • Psychology • Social Work • Education and Rehabilitation Sciences • Teachers Education

29. Co-operation with the media • Media: partners in protection of sexually abused children • Collaboration based on the principles of ethics and responsibility

30. Zagreb County Police Administration • 2006– EXPRESSIONS OF GRATITUDE TO THE CHILD PROTECTION CENTRE OF ZAGREB FOR COLLABORATION IN IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND DEVELOPING THE FEELING OF SAFETY

32. Forensic activity today • Co-operation with the courts • Psychiatrists and psychologists – permanent court evaluators – expert witnesses • Assessment of the credibility of the testimony of children and adolescents • Assessment of children and families in various court proceedings (recommending custody arrangements in divorce, various types of abuse and violence in the family)

33. Goals of the further development of the forensic activity • Preliminary proceedings in the Centre (legal possibility) • Reducing trauma and stigmatization of the sexually abused child • Minimising the number of times the child is being interrogated

34. DISCLOSURE OF SEXUAL ABUSE INTERROGATING THE CHILD VIA VIDEO-LINK IN A CHILD FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT FOCUSING ON THE RECOVERY OF THE CHILD

35. Model of the Child Protection Centre of Zagreb • Respect for the specialized knowledge and skills of each professional • Multidisciplinarity • Team work and co-operation with other services • Direct and indirect interventions by the team members • Personal involvement of professionals