Barnahus Network

The Barnahus Network is supporting Europe+ to adopt the Barnahus model as a standard practice for providing rapid access to justice and care to child victims and witnesses of violence. It is a member-led network that works to harmonise and consolidate good Barnahus practice, and does so in support of and in consultation with competent and committed Barnahus across Europe and an established peer-to-peer network. By bringing stakeholders together to share experiences and knowledge, and jointly develop and commit to the Barnahus Quality Standards, the Network is accelerating progress in providing multidisciplinary services to child victims of violence. A harmonisation of Barnahus practice serves to ensure quality Barnahus services, boost the legitimacy of the approach, and ensure that all children have the same access to their rights to protection from violence, support, and to be heard. The Network promotes children’s rights to be heard and to receive assistance in child protection and criminal justice investigations and proceedings. It supports national and local agencies, both governmental and non-governmental, to establish Barnahus or similar models that progressively achieve international legal obligations, professional guidance and the Barnahus quality standards. Our vision is a Europe where all children enjoy their right to be protected from violence; where states implement legislative, administrative, health, social and educational measures to prevent and address violence against children.