Child Protection Centre of Zagreb Protection of sexually abused children: from practice to policy Protection of sexually abused children: from practice to policy Gordana Buljan Flander, Ph.D. REGIONAL CONFERENCE Stopping sexual violence against children – ratifying and implementing the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse Zagreb, october 2011

The problem of child sexual abuse was first tackled some years ago in Croatian public The problem of child sexual abuse was first tackled some years ago in Croatian public This resulted in: This resulted in: - Increased public awareness of the probl em - Growing number of the reports of the abuse

In the inital phase the greatest engagement was carried out by NON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS (NGOs) Problems: Insufficient co-operation between the NGOs themselves Insufficient co-operation between the NGOs themselves Inefficient co-operation with the institutions of the system Inefficient co-operation with the institutions of the system

NGO Brave Phone Helpline for abused and neglected children Helpline for abused and neglected children Public actions, brochures and leaflets for parents and professionals, co-operation with the media Public actions, brochures and leaflets for parents and professionals, co-operation with the media “blowing off the lid” effect “blowing off the lid” effect

Increase of calls directed to Brave Phone ( ) average number of calls per week

Initial surveys in Croatia: Prevalence of the abuse (2001.) Form of abuse % Emotional27% Physical25% Sexual - F 25% Sexual - M 16% Neglect18% Witnessing family violence 20%

WHAT WE’VE ENCOUNTERED? CHILDREN HAVE SPOKEN OUT CHILDREN HAVE SPOKEN OUT INSUFFICIENT NUMBER OF MENTAL HEALTH PROFESIONALS IN GENERAL INSUFFICIENT NUMBER OF MENTAL HEALTH PROFESIONALS IN GENERAL INSUFFICIENT NUMBER OF PROFESIONALS TRAINED IN WORKING WITH SEXUALLY ABUSED CHILDREN INSUFFICIENT NUMBER OF PROFESIONALS TRAINED IN WORKING WITH SEXUALLY ABUSED CHILDREN INEFFICIENT CO-OPERATION BETWEEN THE INSTITUTIONS INEFFICIENT CO-OPERATION BETWEEN THE INSTITUTIONS LACK OF UNDERSTANDING OF THE ROLE OF OTHER PROFESSIONALS INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS LACK OF UNDERSTANDING OF THE ROLE OF OTHER PROFESSIONALS INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS

The City of Zagreb has recognized the importance of the problem as well as the need for providing help to traumatized children The City of Zagreb has recognized the importance of the problem as well as the need for providing help to traumatized children Child Protection Centre of Zagreb, the first institution specialized in working with traumatized children, was opened by the end of 2002 Child Protection Centre of Zagreb, the first institution specialized in working with traumatized children, was opened by the end of 2002 Permanent solution within the system Permanent solution within the system

NGO Brave Phone – helpline for abused and neglected children within the Child Protection Centre

In the Fall 2011 Child protection Centre relocated to new, bigger, more appropriate and more children friendly premises

Multidisciplinary team Today: 9 psychologists 9 psychologists 4 psychiatrists 4 psychiatrists paediatrician paediatrician 2 social workers 2 social workers 3 social pedagogs 3 social pedagogs jurist jurist 6 nurses 6 nurses

Goals of the multidisciplinary approach 1. Efficient assessment of needs and difficulties of each child 2. Planning the optimal treatment that will ensure recovery and healthy development of each child

Diagnostics and treatment of children and their families Diagnostics and treatment of children and their families Multidisciplinary approach and supervision Multidisciplinary approach and supervision Education Education Research and scientific work Research and scientific work Publishing and raising public awareness Publishing and raising public awareness Primary functions of the Child Protection Centre

Working with sexually abused children Diagnostics Diagnostics Therapy Therapy Support Support Working with the non-abusive parent Working with the non-abusive parent

Number of children reffered to the Centre Approximately 1000 new refferals per year 7-12% sexually abused

Since its foundation in 2002 up today 8500 children have been assessed in the Child Protection Centre of Zagreb

Research on child sexual abuse and exposure to sexual content (in collaboration with Brave Phone)

Prevalence of abuse and other traumatic experiences in childhood (N= 4191). Prevalence of abuse and other traumatic experiences in childhood (N= 4191). Exposure of children and youth to the Internet content (N=4000). Exposure of children and youth to the Internet content (N=4000). Attitudes and knowledge of physicians in Croatia related to child abuse and neglect (N=600) Attitudes and knowledge of physicians in Croatia related to child abuse and neglect (N=600) Habits and experiences of children and youth during the use of Internet, mobile phones and other modern technologies (N=2700). Habits and experiences of children and youth during the use of Internet, mobile phones and other modern technologies (N=2700).

Prevalence of sexual abuse (2006; N=4190 ) With contact With and without contact Sexual abuse 13,7%18,1%

Certain experiences of children and youth while using Internet (ages 11-18, N=2700 ) 41% were asked intimate questions 41% were asked intimate questions 39% received request to photograph themselves in a sexualized manner and send a photo 39% received request to photograph themselves in a sexualized manner and send a photo 6% took sexualized photograph of themselves and sent it as requested 6% took sexualized photograph of themselves and sent it as requested 31% received some intimate photos 31% received some intimate photos 37% went alone to meet the person they met on the Internet 37% went alone to meet the person they met on the Internet

Training the professionals of co-operative institutions In collaboration with relevant ministries and the Government of Republic of Croatia, Child Protection Centre of Zagreb trains professionals from various fields social welfare social welfare health health education education police police legal system legal system NGO sector NGO sector Family centres Family centres

Topics related to child sexual abuse Understanding the phenomenon of child sexual abuse Understanding the phenomenon of child sexual abuse Short-term and long-term consequences of child sexual abuse Short-term and long-term consequences of child sexual abuse Initial contact wth sexually abused child – What happens when the child discloses? Initial contact wth sexually abused child – What happens when the child discloses? Forensic intervju with children – specifics regarding age and characteristics of a child Forensic intervju with children – specifics regarding age and characteristics of a child

Topics related to child sexual abuse (continued) Support for the sexually abused child and post- abuse interventions Support for the sexually abused child and post- abuse interventions Assessment and treatment of sexually abused child Assessment and treatment of sexually abused child Support for the non-abusive parent Support for the non-abusive parent Professional and personal challenges and ethical dilemmas in working with sexually abused children Professional and personal challenges and ethical dilemmas in working with sexually abused children

Publishing activity and raising public awareness

Publications of the Child Protection Centre in collaboration with the City of Zagreb Free of charge for parents, children and professionals Free of charge for parents, children and professionals 15 publications 15 publications copies printed and distributed copies printed and distributed Also available on the Child Protection Centre’s website Also available on the Child Protection Centre’s website

Publications of the Child Protection Centre regarding child sexual abuse 25 questions (and answers) for professionals working with abused and neglected children 25 questions (and answers) for professionals working with abused and neglected children Sexual development of the child Sexual development of the child Child and the trauma (leaflet) Child and the trauma (leaflet) It’s happend – What now? – leaflets for the parents of sexually abused children It’s happend – What now? – leaflets for the parents of sexually abused children

It’s happened, what now…? Leaflets for the parents of sexually abused children Signs and consequences of child sexual abuse Signs and consequences of child sexual abuse Myths and facts about sexual abuse and sexual abusers Myths and facts about sexual abuse and sexual abusers Treatment of the sexually abused child Treatment of the sexually abused child Family support of the sexually abused child Family support of the sexually abused child Most frequent questions parents ask Most frequent questions parents ask

Child Protection Centre of Zagreb Educational centre for the student s of : Psychology Psychology Social Work Social Work Education and Rehabilitation Sciences Education and Rehabilitation Sciences Teachers Education Teachers Education

Co-operation with the media Media: partners in protection of sexually abused children Media: partners in protection of sexually abused children Collaboration based on the principles of ethics and responsibility Collaboration based on the principles of ethics and responsibility

Zagreb County Police Administration 2006 – EXPRESSIONS OF GRATITUDE TO THE CHILD PROTECTION CENTRE OF ZAGREB FOR COLLABORATION IN IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND DEVELOPING THE FEELING OF SAFETY 2006 – EXPRESSIONS OF GRATITUDE TO THE CHILD PROTECTION CENTRE OF ZAGREB FOR COLLABORATION IN IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND DEVELOPING THE FEELING OF SAFETY

Forensic activity today Co-operation with the courts Co-operation with the courts Psychiatrists and psychologists – permanent court evaluators – expert witnesses Psychiatrists and psychologists – permanent court evaluators – expert witnesses Assessment of the credibility of the testimony of children and adolescents Assessment of the credibility of the testimony of children and adolescents Assessment of children and families in various court proceedings (recommending custody arrangements in divorce, various types of abuse and violence in the family) Assessment of children and families in various court proceedings (recommending custody arrangements in divorce, various types of abuse and violence in the family)

Goals of the further development of the forensic activity Preliminary proceedings in the Centre (legal possibility) Preliminary proceedings in the Centre (legal possibility) Reducing trauma and stigmatization of the sexually abused child Reducing trauma and stigmatization of the sexually abused child Minimising the number of times the child is being interrogated Minimising the number of times the child is being interrogated

DISCLOSURE OF SEXUAL ABUSE INTERROGATING THE CHILD VIA VIDEO-LINK IN A CHILD FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT FOCUSING ON THE RECOVERY OF THE CHILD

Model of the Child Protection Centre of Zagreb Respect for the specialized knowledge and skills of each professional Respect for the specialized knowledge and skills of each professional Multidisciplinarity Multidisciplinarity Team work and co-operation with other services Team work and co-operation with other services Direct and indirect interventions by the team members Direct and indirect interventions by the team members Personal involvement of professionals Personal involvement of professionals