On April 27, 2021, ASTRA conducted the second of the two thematic mutual learning events with key judicial and child protection stakeholders on \u201cParticularly Vulnerable Children in Contact with the Law \u2013 Provision of Psychological and Legal Assistance\u201d.<\/p>\n
Initially, the round table was supposed to gather 20 participants but, the trend of great interest in participating at the event continued and ASTRA received almost over 160 applications. In order to allow the maximum number of participants, and yet to maintain a form of the event which would foster discussion, the audience was expanded to 90 participants, representing the widest possible range of relevant institutions and organizations.<\/p>\n
Among 90 participants, majority came from the social protection system, including social workers, psychologists, legal professionals, special pedagogues and defectologists who work with children and youth. The participants from the justice sector included judges from several high courts and prosecutors from the basic and high public prosecutor\u2019s offices. In addition, participants came from the Bar Association, high courts` victim support services, academia and civil society organizations working mainly on child protection issues, women\u2019s rights, and anti-trafficking.<\/p>\n
The discussion panel addressed the identification of main vulnerability factors, needs assessment as well as provision of adequate forms of assistance to three particularly vulnerable groups of children who come in contact with the law: child victims of sexual violence and\/or human trafficking and children from refugee, asylum seeking or migrant population, in particular unaccompanied children and children separated from parents. The panelists were eminent experts from the various fields (medicine, psychology, law and psychotherapy) who work directly with children and provide them assistance at their organizations \u2013 Incest Trauma Center, Institute for Psychodrama and Psychological Innovation Network.<\/p>\n