This report from the Children’s Commissioner of England outlines the potential of the Barnahus (children’s house) model for improving the response to child sexual abuse in England. The Barnahus model was implemented in 1998 in Iceland as a child-centred response to sexual abuse. Features of the model that support victims of sexual abuse throughout the criminal justice process include:
- a home-like setting;
- helping victims disclose abuse;
- a minimal number of interviews conducted by child-expert staff;
- improved evidence through reducing the need for children to testify in court;
- guaranteed and rapid access to therapy for abused children
The Barnahus model has since been adopted and adapted in a number of other countries, and this report makes the recommendation that commissioners in England investigate how this model can be piloted and adapted to the English legal system in order to improve rates of prosecution and outcomes for children.
Children’s Commissioner of England
Barnahus: Improving the response to child sexual abuse in England
13 June 2016