Training seminar for officials of the Legal Service of the Republic with the aim of improving the presentation of criminal cases in the Courts, concerning offences of sexual abuse and exploitation with child victims, was held today, at the GTI auditorium, by the Legal Service in cooperation with the Council for the Implementation of the National Strategy for Combating Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children and Child Pornography - "Voice" Council.
The seminar, addressed to legal practitioners in the criminal sector and public prosecutors, was based on two main thematic axes:
Axis 1: "Children-Vulnerable Witnesses", "Supreme Court Approach, Child Assessment and Credibility, Role of the Expert in relation to the behaviour of the child after an incident of abuse". The lecture was presented by the Honourable President of the Larnaca District Court Ms. Elena Efraim,
and
Axis 2: "Learning to listen and prepare a minor victim of abuse by protecting them from re-injury". The lecture was presented by Ms Olga Themelis, Associate Professor of Forensic Psychology at the University of Crete.
Welcoming the seminar and expressing satisfaction for its organization, the Deputy Prosecutor General of the Republic Mr. Savvas Angelides focused on the special approach and the efficiency required to be demonstrated in handling cases with vulnerable witnesses. Because the child victim of sexual abuse and exploitation is not the usual witness, but the vulnerable witness who needs protection, "it is imperative that we contribute to the assertion and protection of his rights at all stages: investigation, approach of the child by the Prosecutor, hearing," said Mr. Angelides. Therefore, he continued, "the obligation for regular training of members of the Legal Service who may come into contact with children, vulnerable witnesses, becomes even more necessary due to the alarming levels of increase in sexual abuse and exploitation of children in recent years, which has resulted in the registration of a significant number of cases before the Courts of Cassation and District Courts."
Ms. Anastasia Papadopoulou, President of the "Voice" Council, in her address, referred to the important changes adopted in 2014 with the implementation of legislation to combat sexual abuse and exploitation of children, such as the establishment of the "Voice" Council, which is the first Council of its kind in the Council of Europe member states, and the "Children's House". "Through the hard work of the Legal Service, legislation was drafted that effectively distinguishes between the many forms of child sexual abuse and exploitation offences and child pornography, excludes specific defences and highlights aggravating factors," he said. To go on to say that, this legislation has also contributed to awakening society to an issue which a decade ago was largely hidden behind a "veil of silence" and in which "the efforts of agencies and organizations found its ally in you [THE LEGAL SERVICE]. It would be unfair not to mention the vast improvement in the Legal Service's handling of such cases, both in the assessment and promotion of cases and in the sensitivity with which child witnesses are treated. Moreover, the holding of this seminar is proof of the practical recognition of the importance of the issue by the Legal Service, as well as the need for continuous training," Ms Papadopoulou concluded.
The training seminar is part of the legal obligation under the Council of Europe Convention for the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse (Lanzarote Convention), ratified by the Republic, and the Prevention and Combating of Sexual Abuse or Sexual Exploitation of Children and Child Pornography Law of 2014. It is also part of the strategy and priorities set by the heads of the Legal Service to strengthen the specialized training of Legal Service officials.
The seminar was moderated by the Senior Lawyer of the Republic Mrs. Elli Papagapiou Christou.
(BL)
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