The rise to alarming levels of sexual abuse and exploitation of children in recent years was noted on Wednesday by the Assistant Attorney General, Savvas Angelides, noting that "this has resulted in the registration, unfortunately, of a significant number of cases before the Court of Cassation and the provincial courts".
Mr. Angelides was speaking at the launch of a training seminar for officials of the Legal Service in relation to better presentation of criminal cases involving offences of sexual abuse and exploitation with vulnerable witnesses - children as victims, organised in Nicosia by the Legal Service of the Republic, in cooperation with the Implementation Council of the National Strategy for Combating Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children and Child Pornography Council "Voice".
In his address, in his capacity as Deputy Attorney General, Mr. Angelides noted that the organization of the seminar is "with a view to achieving the common goal of protecting children, these vulnerable witnesses in the proceedings we have to face".
He said that the purpose of the seminar is to train the officers of the Legal Service in relation to the better presentation of the most serious cases involving offences of sexual abuse and exploitation involving child victims, and the officers of the Service who come into contact with children in relation to cases of removal of parental authority.
He pointed out that "this training is part of the strategy and priorities we have set in the Legal Service for the particular approach and effectiveness required to be demonstrated in handling cases with vulnerable witnesses, children".
He said that for this training there is also a legal obligation arising from the Council of Europe Convention and the relevant national legislation of 2014 to provide training on children's rights and issues related to sexual exploitation and abuse of children, for the benefit of all persons involved in the proceedings.
Angelides said that the obligation for regular training of members of the Legal Service who may come into contact with children - vulnerable witnesses becomes even more necessary
"Considering that the well-being of children and the healthy formation of their personality are fundamental values that must be protected and promoted without discrimination, our contribution to the assertion and protection of their rights at all stages: investigation, approach of the child by the prosecutor, hearing," he added.
He pointed out that "the child victim of sexual abuse and exploitation is not an ordinary witness, but the vulnerable witness who needs protection and must be treated as such."
He also noted the important role of the "Voice" Council and the essential work it carries out, always keeping in mind the interests of the child at all levels of prevention and combating sexual abuse and exploitation of children.
He also assured that "we will contribute in our turn to the expansion of the Children's House to other provinces, hopefully starting from Limassol".
The President of the "Voice" Council, Anastasia Papadopoulou, pointed out, among others, in her address that justice is done when we accept that not everyone who comes before it is the same, that we have to adapt the process to the needs of the most vulnerable among us.
She said the 2014 legislation has had an undeniable influence on the changes we see today and led to the development of the National Strategy to Combat Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation and Child Pornography, the training and specialization of workers and professionals, the establishment of the "Voice" Council, the creation and operation of the Children's Home and, above all, the awakening of society to the existence of a real social issue and the need to address it comprehensively.
Ms. Papadopoulou pointed out that there is a huge improvement in the treatment of such cases by the Legal Service, both in their evaluation and promotion, and in the sensitivity with which child witnesses are treated.
"The role of the 'Voice' Council is to be your ally, a helper in your work and to offer support in your every need," she said.
She said that this seminar "is an indication of our will and commitment to work together."
The Senior Advocate of the Republic, Elli Papagapiou, said, in her welcome address, that the aim of this training action is, on the one hand, to better present criminal cases concerning offences of sexual abuse and exploitation involving child victims and, on the other hand, to improve the approach of child vulnerable witnesses by legal officers-prosecutors.
The seminar included lectures by the President of the Larnaca District Court, Elena Efraim, entitled "Children - Vulnerable Witnesses, Supreme Court Approach, Child Assessment and Credibility, Expert's Role in relation to Child Behaviour after an Abuse Incident" and Olga Themelis, Associate Professor of Forensic Psychology, Department of Psychology, University of Crete, entitled "Learning to listen and prepare a minor victim of abuse, protecting them from re-traumatisation".
Source: CNA
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