Child Abuse and Adult Justice – A comparative study of different European Criminal Justice Systems handling of cases concerning Child Sexual Abuse

Child Abuse and Adult Justice – A comparative study of different European Criminal Justice Systems handling of cases concerning Child Sexual Abuse. This report deals with the ways in which the interests of the child as victim and witness in legal proceedings relating to sexual abuse are protected in 10 European countries – Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Norway, Romania, Spain and Sweden. It examines practices related to the criminal investigation, the status, role and representation of the victim/witness in the proceedings and explores the extent to which these processes are adapted to the rights, needs and abilities of the child. Two elements of the criminal investigation – the questioning and the medical examination of the child – are analysed in more detail. The aim of this Save the Children project is to gather international experience, to define common challenges and identify good practice for abused children in the legal system. It is meant to give an impetus to government initiatives in this particularly challenging area.