We seek an expert who will specifically develop a legal summary on pre-recorded interviews and remote hearings with children.

Background

Barnahus (translates to “children house” in English) is a child-friendly, interdisciplinary, and multi-agency centre for children for whom there is suspicion or evidence that they have been victims of violence or abuse. These centres aim to provide coordinated child-appropriate assessments and responses by child protection, social services, criminal justice, and medical and mental health professionals. Inspired by Child Advocacy Centres in the US, the first Barnahus centres were implemented in Iceland in 1998 and have since been implemented in many European countries, with model variations and local adaptations. Despite the rapid expansion, there is little evidence about the effectiveness and impact of the approach on child wellbeing or their contribution to securing justice for child victims.

The Barnahus Network is supporting Europe to adopt Barnahus as a standard practice for providing child victims and witnesses of violence rapid access to justice and care. We undertake this work to fulfil our vision: a Europe where all children enjoy their right to be protected from violence. Read more about our work and results here.

Project

The “E-vivi” project is an EU-funded initiative which includes a focus on enhancing practices for interviewing and engaging with children in judicial settings—both as victims/witnesses and suspects. With this particular work package led by the Barnahus Network (BN), in collaboration with HEUNI and other partners, the work aims to develop best-practice materials, legal summaries, protocols, and guidance documents that improve procedural fairness, protect children’s rights, and avoid (re)traumatisation during legal processes. Read more about the project here.

Purpose of the Assignment

Deliverable D3.2: A legal summary detailing international and national legal obligations regarding videorecording of interviews with child victims, witnesses, and suspects, focusing on procedural safeguards.

Scope of Work

(a) Legal Summary (D3.2)

• Review international and regional legal frameworks (e.g., UNCRC, Council of Europe Child-Friendly Justice Guidelines, EU Directives such as 2012/29/EU and 2016/800) relevant to videorecording child interviews.
• Identify key national legal obligations and standards in selected European jurisdictions (provided by BN and partners) that govern children’s rights and procedural safeguards when conducting videorecorded testimonies.
• Synthesize findings into a concise, 3+ page summary that highlights core legal obligations, focusing on practical implications for justice professionals.
• Days foreseen: 5 +/- depending on level of experience

Read more about the assignment and scope of work here.

Required Qualifications

• Advanced degree in law (master’s level or equivalent), with specialisation in child law, criminal justice, or human rights.
• Proven experience in drafting legal summaries, guidance documents, or policy briefs for EU-funded or international child-rights related projects.
• Familiarity with international and European legal frameworks relevant to children in judicial settings.
• Excellent English writing skills, with the ability to present complex legal information in an accessible and clear manner.
• Strong organisational and communication skills, with the ability to incorporate feedback from multiple stakeholders.

How to apply

Application Procedure

• Interested candidates should submit their CV, a brief proposal (including daily rate and availability), and examples of previous relevant work by 27 April 2025 to svb@barnahus.eu.
• Selection will be based on qualifications, experience, and value for money.