Translation

What is CHILD Project?

CHILD – Towards a CHILD-friendly legal Order for Fair Justice Provision is an EU-funded initiative aimed at improving the judicial system for child victims and witnesses of violence. The project runs from July 2024 until June 2026 and brings together professionals from various sectors to promote structural reforms, better collaboration, and advocacy for child-friendly legal frameworks across the EU.

Methodology and aims 

CHILD Project proposes a collaborative work of front line professionals towards the development of a child-friendly judicial system for child victims and/or witnesses of violence. It aims to facilitate a staged and structured process for better implementation of existing legislative frameworks at 9 EU countries and move to structural changes at national level and EU context. An analysis concerning professionals’ needs (police authorities, prosecutors, judges, lawyers, forensic interviews and victim support services) will be conducted. Bringing out the spotlight professionals’ voice through conducting national and transnational focus groups will be of vital importance in stressing the inefficiencies of the existing mechanism of support for child victims and/or witnesses of violence. 

These shortcomings and deviations will be utilized in developing a handbook for professionals which will underline the special needs of children. The handbook will be deployed as a valuable element which will be introduced to professionals in capacity-building sessions. Capacity-building sessions will be conducted in each targeted country. The goal of these sessions is to reinforce multi-agency collaboration in child protection. Therefore, multi-disciplinary case management sessions will be held both on national and transnational level, aiming at encouraging multi-agency collaboration among stakeholders both on the national and transnational EU level. 

Moreover, the material produced in the activities aforementioned will be utilized in the organization and development of advocacy activities. The existing inadequacies and aberrations will be translated into “tools of pressure” that will contribute to structural changes regarding the upgrade of the “minimum standards” in child protection.

Objectives of CHILD Project

  • Increase the competence of actors and establish a more child-friendly judicial system
  • Promote and advocate for the implementation of the guiding principles and priorities of Strategy on victims‘ rights. This will facilitate victims‘ access (in this case for children) to information and generally judicial procedures.
  • Proposing modifications and/or revision of 2012/29/EU Directive can reinforce the role of civil society as a watch dog for human rights violations.
  • Encourage multi-agency disciplinary collaboration between criminal justice entities and other relevant actors involved in child protection
  • Advocate for the legislative and policy adjustments at national level – by proposing specific changes which need to be implemented

Previous project: ENCLAVE

The idea for this EU project came about as a result of the debate on the project ENCLAVE – Enhancing the capacity of legal & justice professionals on forensic interview procedures for child victims and witnesses of violence. 

The aim of the 2-year ENCLAVE project, funded by EC Justice Programme, is to foster impactful changes in criminal proceedings so as to introduce and mainstream an effective and coherent implementation of the protocol for forensic interview for child abuse to prevent repeated victimization, intimidation and retaliation connected with violence. The overall goal of ENCLAVE is to boost the implementation of a more appropriate and victim-sensitive approach within criminal proceedings tailored to the particular needs of children victims and witnesses of abuse.
You can find all the information here: https://enclaveproject.eu/ 

Project Partners

 
Association for the Prevention and Handling of Violence in the Family (SPAVO, Cyprus):

The Association for the Prevention and Handling of Violence in the Family (APHVF) is the only organization in Cyprus dedicated to addressing domestic and gender-based violence, with 30 years of experience in protecting and supporting victims while promoting a violence-free society. APHVF provides a range of essential frontline services, including the National Helpline 1440, counseling, legal, psychological, and social support, as well as operating the only shelters for victims and offering intervention program for perpetrators. APHVF also raises awareness, promotes prevention policies, advises on legislative reforms, and engages the public through educational programs. Since 2020, APHVF coordinates the "Women's House," a multidisciplinary center for gender-based violence, and since 2023 manages "Sofi's House," supporting young and underage mothers who are asylum seekers.

 
Directia de Asistenta Sociala si Medicala (DASM, Romania):

The Social and Medical Services Directorate (D.A.S.M- Direcția de Asistență Socială și Medicală, Cluj-Napoca) is the main public provider of social and medical services and social benefits at local level (Cluj-Napoca). The institution was created in 2008 and it is subordinated to the Local Council of the Municipality of Cluj-Napoca. 
Its mission is identifying the social problems and needs of the community; finding the proper solutions regarding child and family protection, the elderly, persons with disabilities and other persons in need or vulnerable groups, social and community development, prevention and management of social risks. Its actions are directed towards the individual, the family, the community level. 
The Objectives of DASM: preventing situations which could lead to social marginalization; supporting the ones in need in overcoming difficulties in order to limit/tackle temporary/permanent effects of situations which can generate social exclusion; increasing the quality of life; promoting the social inclusion of vulnerable persons and groups within the local community. 

 

 
Verein Autonome Österreichische Frauenhäuser (AOF, Austria):

The Association of Austrian Autonomous Women’s Shelters (AOF) is the network of autonomous women’s shelters in Austria and was founded in 1988. AOF supports and coordinates the work of 16 autonomous women’s shelters and has been active in the field of violence protection and prevention ever since. The association supports all forms of prevention through five pillars of work: Information Centre against Violence, Women’s helpline, Help Chat for women and girls, StoP – districts without partner violence and BAKHTI – Center for Empowerment for girls and women affected by violence. 

 
Ghent University, International Center for Reproductive Health (UGent, ICRH, Belgium)

The International Centre for Reproductive Health (ICRH) operates as a multidisciplinary center within the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at Ghent University, Belgium. ICRH is dedicated to advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) worldwide. The center orchestrates a blend of research, education, and societal outreach across Europe, Latin America, Africa, and Asia. With a vision to act as a global catalyst for evidence-based improvements in SRHR, ICRH is committed to influencing policies, enhancing educational practices, and fostering better health outcomes globally.

 
Uniao de Mulheres Alternativa e Resposta (UMAR, Portugal):

UMAR - União de Mulheres Alternativa e Resposta [Alternative and Response Women's Association] is a feminist NGO, formed in September 1976. UMAR is responsible for operating different support centres, shelters and emergency rooms in different parts of the country, including a specialized service for children and adolescents victims of domestic violence. Since 2004 operates a gender-based violence prevention programme in schools. UMAR has also been providing recommendations and policy advisory to different governments and being involved in national and international projects and the training of health, social, educational and judicial operators. 

 
Una Casa per l'Uomo (UCPU, Italy):

Una Casa per l'Uomo is an Italian NGO established in 1992 dedicated to preventing and combating gender-based violence (GBV). UCPU provides women support services, shelter homes for women victims of violence and their children, as well as a treatment programme for perpetrators.
UCPU's approach is transcultural and gender-oriented, focusing on multidisciplinary and multiagency work to create a cohesive system of services. These services are integrated within local public and private social service networks, fostering collaboration and maximizing resource impact.

 
Charles III University of Madrid (UC3M, Spain):

Carlos III University of Madrid is a public higher education institution. Within the CHILD project, UC3M is represented by a specialized team in criminal procedure, restorative justice, and victims' rights  

 
Union of Women Associations of Heraklion Prefecture (UWAH, Greece – Coordinator):

Founded in 2001, UWAH is a registered NGO and Certified Provider of Social Services in Greece, based in Heraklion, Crete. It works to protect women’s rights and combat intimate partner violence, domestic violence, and gender-based violence, focusing on women and girls. UWAH collaborates with local, national, and EU organizations and is a member of WAVE, WWP EN, the European Family Justice Alliance (EFCJA), and EUROCHILD. UWAH operates a 24/7 helpline, a Counseling Center, a Shelter for survivors (8 seats), and a Perpetrators Program (since 2021, under WWP EN supervision). It also runs the Regional Observatory for Gender-Based Violence in Crete, providing key insights through research and training. Annually, UWAH supports 100+ women and girls, handles 500+ crisis calls, and trains 300+ professionals at regional and national levels. Through its services, advocacy, and training initiatives, UWAH remains at the forefront of fighting gender-based violence and promoting systemic change.

 
Women’s Support and Information Centre (WSIC, Estonia):

WSIC is an NGO, founded in 2002 as a first shelter in Estonia focused on supporting women suffering from violence. WSIC focuses on creating conditions for stopping the mechanisms of domestic violence, to enable rehabilitation and re-socialization of survivors . WSICs goal is to raise the level of awareness among all stakeholders involved by providing training and technical assistance to the police, prosecutors, social workers, health workers and political leaders on all of the dimensions of the issue.