Abstract:

In 2022, the first children's house the primary goal of which is the comprehensive treatment of child victims or witnesses of criminal offences, will begin operating in Slovenia. The newly formed Protection of Children in Criminal Procedure and their Comprehensive Treatment in children's House Act stipulates that a forensic interview with a child victim of a sexual offence shall be conducted in the Children’s house with the assistance of an appropriate expert for criminal proceedings or in cases of urgent pre-trial investigation. (Miklič, 2021a) Thus, the criminal proceedings are aimed at avoiding additional unnecessary interrogations and thus causing victimisation due to the proceedings themselves and approaching the welfare of the injured child. (Miklič,2021b) Despite the proximity of the opening, the professional public is not adequately acquainted with the European concept of Barnahus, which will be approached by the first children's house in Slovenia in its operating model. Due to the lack of key information, misconceptions and unrealistic expectations have formed, which will complicate the idea of the children’s house operation for a child who would need treatment in the children's house at the stage of disclosure of abuse and at the time of reporting to the competent authorities, and for experts who daily meet children, victims of abuse, as well as for professionals employed in the house.

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