The presentation is dedicated to European principles of child-friendly justice and Child protection system in Belarus in the light of European standards.

1. Olga Petrova
CSc., Associate Professor
Faculty of Law
Belarusian State University (Minsk, Belarus)
olga.val.petrova@gmail.com

2.  1/ History of Juvenile justice in brief and
Conception of Child-friendly Justice
 2/ Principles of Child-friendly Justice
 3/ Juvenile Justice and Child Protection
System in Belarus
 4/ Child giving evidence in Criminal
Procedure

3. Welfare
model
Justice
model
Mixed
model
Restorative
Justice
model ?

4.  United Nation Standards Minimum Rules for
the Administration of Juvenile Justice “The
Beijing Rule 1985”
 The Convention on the Rights of Child, 1989
 United Nation Guidelines in the Matter
Involving Child Victims and Witnesses of the
Crime (ECOSOS,2005)
 etc.

5.  The Guidelines on Child Friendly Justice, adopted
by the Committee of the Ministers of the Council
Of Europe on 17th of November 2010
◦ Chapter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union
2000/C 364/01(art. 24)
◦ Directive 2012/29/EU establishing minimum standards
on the rights, support and protection of victims of crime
◦ Proposal COM/2013/0822 final - 2013/0408 (COD) for
a Directive of the European Parliament and the Council
on procedural safeguards for children suspected or
accused in criminal proceedings

6. Participation
Best interest of
the child
Dignity
Protection
from
discrimination
Rule of law

7.  Right to information and advice
 Protection of private and family life
 Save and preventive measures
 Training of professionals
 Multidisciplinary approach
 Deprivation of liberty and taking into custody
policy
 Right to be heard and express their views
 Diversion and restorative measures

8.  Give testimony in courtroom
 Give testimony from other place via CCTV-
link
 Tape-recorded evidence
 Hearsay evidence of psychologist or other
staff

9. photo from: National Agency of Investment and
Privatization, www.investinbelarus.by
Population -
9,503,809
people
Children under 18 -
1,741,8
(18.4 percent)

10.  No universal law
 Website mir.pravo.by
 Two variants of Conception on the
Establishment of Juvenile Justice
 “Protesting lobbizm” of Orthodox Church
 No special department for child abuse
investigation and conducting out juvenile
cases

11. recognition
of child’s
being in
social
dangerous
situation
alienation a
child
elaborates
child
protection
plan for
family’s
reformation
the status of
child without
parental care
the child
transferring
to state
maintenance
deprival the
child’s
parents (the
only parent)
of parental
rights
return children to
parents

12.  Legal assistance is obligatory
 The participation of psychologist or social
worker is obligatory
 Right to participation of legal representative
 Deprivation of liberty and preliminary
incarceration as the last resort
 Specialization of judges (not lay judges)
 Social Report is prepared by investigator
 Restorative Justice in 2015?

13.  Participation of teacher (social worker) or
psychologist
 Accompaniment by their parents or other
legal representatives
 Giving evidence out of courtroom
◦ from live-link room/ other room
 Release from appearance in court
?

14. Reporting crime
Child-friendly investigation
Social, Medical and
psychological assistance

15. The National Child Helpline
8-801-100-1611
The Child Care Centers
photo: INGO Ponimanie, www.ponimanie.org

16.  Child friendly Interviewing
Rooms
 Child friendly forensic medical
examination
 Psychological Rehabilitation/
Counseling

17. Photo: Child Welfare Center (with shelter) of Leninsky district of Minsk,
www.lenspc.minsk.edu.by
15 rooms in easy
availability from any
place in the country