Young victims of violence find safe space at Barnahus
A team of specialists, including psychologists, social workers and doctors, are helping children to rebuild.
- Українська
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Colouring books and toys fill the room. Children play quietly. As the war continues to devastate lives across Ukraine, this centre in the Vinnytska region has become a safe space for children, a place to rebuild.
At the Barnahus centre, psychologists work with children who have suffered or witnessed violence, acting as a mediator between them and investigators. Currently, minors who have witnessed war crimes, such as the shelling of civilian infrastructure, are being helped and questioned here.
A multidisciplinary team of specialists, including psychologists, social workers and doctors, work closely with the children, in order to avoid re-traumatising them. They also work with the investigating authorities.
"Together with the prosecutor's office, we are preparing questions that would be comfortable and understandable for a child of any age. They can draw the answer, show it in a game, show it with dolls or explain it in any comfortable form. Our team will make sure these testimonies meet the legal requirements."
The Barnahus network is being established in Ukraine with the support of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). Over the past three months, Barnahus specialists in the Vinnytska region have worked with eight minors.
"As a social worker, I meet a child, give them a small tour to distract them from their problem as much as possible, and create comfortable conditions for them before meeting a psychologist," says Veronika, one of the social workers.
During questioning, the children will only see and hear a psychologist. Their answers are transmitted to the courtroom via video conference.
"Children are traumatised. They experience these events very sensitively, they need rehabilitation and psychological support. The older the child, the more difficult it is to experience traumatic events. Therefore, in the beginning, it is necessary to stabilise their condition. There are several techniques to do it – ‘grounding’ and breathing exercises. These techniques are effective and children like them.”
"Children are our future. Who else but us will support them? Each case is difficult in its own way, so it is impossible to say that there are easier and harder cases. After all, each child is an individual. Every time you are deeply concerned by their stories.”
Veronika says all of the children need patience and understanding.
As well as helping minors who have experienced or witnessed violence, the Barnahus centre in Vinnytska also provides mental health support. Other centres have been established in Mykolaiv and Ternopil, and more are preparing to open in Odesa, Zhytomyr, Kropyvnytskyi, Kyiv and Chernivtsi.
It is crucial to build safe spaces for children who have experienced or witnessed violence. With help from a team of qualified specialists, it is possible to reach out to traumatised children, understand what happened, provide assistance and safely use the evidence provided for investigations.
