Child as a Witness

Rosa Association from the Czech Republic is carrying a project aiming to support children - victims of domestic violence. Due to the violence that occurred or the parents' divorce a child often has to give statement in front of the judge or the police. Recently Rosa Association has issued "The magic book" - a tool created to help the children to adopt to this new and difficult situation and to enable them to express emotions.

On 3rd March 2010 the campaign was officially inaugurated by the Minister of Justice, Children's Rights Ombudsman and Nobody's Children Foundation's director.

Activities of this year's campaign will be conducted under the theme "I will be interviewed", putting emphasis on the child's subjectivity and its right to special protection in difficult situations occurring during of legal procedures.

Child Well-Being Fund adopted a guide for professionals interviewing child witnesses -"How to interview a child". The book was originally written in Polish by Alicja Budzyńska, expert from the Nobody's Children Foundation. The publication consists of a set of practical guidelines for organising and carrying out interviews of children who take part in legal proceedings and examples of standard questions. The author emphasizes importance of assessing psychological state of a child and its developmental stage.

The expertise, prepared by Vasilka Bozinovska in 2008, presents regulations concerning children partcipating in legal procedures as witnesses or children who suffered abuse.

Below you can dowload the expertise