“How to Enhance Assistance to Victims of Human Trafficking”, Helsinki, March 2014

1. “How to Enhance Assistance to Victims of Human Trafficking”, Helsinki, March 2014 Children exposed to exploitation, trafficking and at risk in transnational situations: Cooperation Model against Trafficking – One Stop Shop Bragi Guðbrandsson, Gen. Director The Government Agency for Child Protection, Iceland

2. Introduction • What requirements are stipulated by international law and other tools with regard to transnational cases of exploitation, trafficking and children at risk? • The case for the “Barnahus-model“ or One Shop Stop response

3. Trauma and re-traumatization • Children moving across boarders, victims of trafficking, exploitation or at risk are (probably) already traumatized • Danger of re-traumatization derives from multi-sectorial response if interventions are not co-ordinated in a child-friendly or sensitive manner

4. UN CRC on child victimization • Article 39 “States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to promote physical and psychological recovery and social reintegration of a child victim of.. any form of neglect, exploitation, or abuse…”

5. UN CRC on revictimization • Article 3.1 “In all actions concerning children, whether undertaken by public or private social welfare institutions, courts of law, administrative authorities or legislative bodies, the best interest of the child shall be a primary consideration”

6. UN Guidelines on Justice in Matters involving Child Victims and Witnesses of Crime (2005) • Professional should develop and implement comprehensive and specially tailored interventions in cases where there are risks that the victim may be victimised further. These strategies… should take into account the nature of the victimization .. including sexual exploitation and trafficking.. (Art. 39)

7. The CoE Lanzarote Convention on the Prevention of Children Against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse • Unique among International Agreements • Basic characteristics: • Child-friendly • Comprehensive • In terms of scope • In terms of content • Interdisciplinary/Multiagency • Proactive

8. Multiageny response in CoE Standard setting • Guidelines on Child friendly justice recommends: • MS to “set up child-friendly, multi-agency and interdisciplinary centers for child victims and witnesses where children could be interviewed and medically examined for forensic purposes, comprehensively assessed and receive all relevant therapeutic services from appropriate professionals” • Rec(2011)12 on Child-friendly Social Services • The Guidelines on Child-friendly Health Care (2010) • Congress of Regional and Local Authorities Strategy against Child Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse

9. The Mission of the Barnahus • To facilitate collaboration and coordination of the CPS, Police, Prosecution and the Medical profession in the investigation of child sexual abuse • To provide a child friendly settings for joint investigative interviews and medical examination • To ensure professional implementation of investigative interviews

10. The Mission of the Barnahus • To ensure that the child victim and his/her family receives appropriate assessment, treatment and support • To establish professional work practices and guidelines by interdisciplinary cooperation • To enhance specialized knowledge on child sexual abuse and to mediate that knowledge as appropriate to professionals and the public alike

11. Children´s House Joint Investigative Interviews Victim Therapy Medical Exams and Evaluation Networking Local/ National Family Counselling/ Support Education, Training and Research

12. Recommendations • Multiagency and interdisciplinary approach: “One stop shop” • Comprehensive services: investigations, assessment and appropriate support • Child-sensitive and humane approach with the aim of preventing re-victimization