By Chris Harris
Sexually-abused children are among European youngsters whose suffering is being exacerbated by failings in the justice system, a ground-breaking new report claims.
They are being left scared, ignored and ill-informed because police officers and legal professionals lack the sufficient training to deal with them, according to the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA).
Unfriendly and disrespectful’
The report, the first of its kind, says the shortcomings mean youngsters are not being heard properly and don’t understand the legal process.
Astrid Podsiadlowski, author of the dossier, told Euronews some children had not said everything in police interviews because they hadn’t been told the importance a statement had in prosecuting offenders.
She added this evidence is often vital in sexual abuse cases where the youngster is often the only witness.
“Children need to be properly informed and people need to check that they understand the procedures and their rights,” said Dr Podsiadlowski. “If they don’t understand, this has a very strong influence on them being scared and afraid of the proceedings and has an influence on their statements.”
Click here for the full article.
Source: euronews.
They are being left scared, ignored and ill-informed because police officers and legal professionals lack the sufficient training to deal with them, according to the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA).
Unfriendly and disrespectful’
The report, the first of its kind, says the shortcomings mean youngsters are not being heard properly and don’t understand the legal process.
Astrid Podsiadlowski, author of the dossier, told Euronews some children had not said everything in police interviews because they hadn’t been told the importance a statement had in prosecuting offenders.
She added this evidence is often vital in sexual abuse cases where the youngster is often the only witness.
“Children need to be properly informed and people need to check that they understand the procedures and their rights,” said Dr Podsiadlowski. “If they don’t understand, this has a very strong influence on them being scared and afraid of the proceedings and has an influence on their statements.”
Click here for the full article.
Source: euronews.
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