On November 6, university staff took part in a round table on the interrogation of child witnesses and victims, conducted by foreign experts of the European Union Advisory Mission. The event was attended by the Head of the Department of Criminology and Psychology, Candidate of Law, Lieutenant Colonel Valentina Goroshko, Professor of the Department of Police Administration, Candidate of Law, Major of Police Kovaleva Olena, Associate Professor of Criminology and Psychology, Candidate of Psychology Margarita Zhuravlyova.
The purpose of the event was to raise awareness about the use of child-friendly rooms ("green rooms") during interrogation and to highlight the role of judges, prosecutors, and defenders in promoting the protection of children's rights in criminal proceedings.
Online event was opened by Senior Law Enforcement Adviser George Pokaz (Greece). Andriy Dryshlyuk, Deputy Chairman of the Odessa Court of Appeal, made a report on the interrogation of child witnesses and victims in Ukraine.
Zhuravlyova Margarita revealed the specifics of the implementation and practice of using the "Child-Friendly Crisis Room" at the Odessa State University of Internal Affairs.
Further, the Head of the Prosecutor's Office / Judicial Service, Judge Francesco Florit (Italy), highlighted the specifics of criminal proceedings and the protection of the rights of child witnesses and victims in the practice of Italy.
Petra Manson (Sweden), Senior Adviser on Public Prosecutor's Reform, briefed the participants on the prosecutor's work during the interview of a minor.
Rule of Law Adviser / Coach Ville Lahti (Finland) reported on the cooperation between the police and the prosecutor during the interview of children.
Thus, the use of "green rooms" increases the detection of crimes against the child, as a friendly and comfortable environment will help the child to provide more complete evidence that will help solve the crime and establish the truth in the case. Providing advisory support and effective interaction with foreign colleagues is the key to improving and humanizing the system of interrogation of a child witness and a victim child.
PRU OSUIA
