The child experiences primary victimisation at the time of the traumatic event constituting a criminal offence, and almost always experiences secondary victimisation later on, due to inadequate formal and informal treatment during the phases of detection, investigation and evidence of violent crime. In order to reduce secondary victimisation, the Republic of Slovenia has amended the Criminal Procedure Act (Act Amending the Criminal Procedure Act; ZKP-N) to introduce certain mechanisms in the procedure itself to contribute to this. With the same aim, it adopted the Protection of Children in Criminal Procedure and their Comprehensive Treatment in Children's House Act (ZZOKPOHO) in 2021, which establishes the institutional framework and procedures for the protection of juvenile victims and witnesses of criminal offences in criminal proceedings and their comprehensive treatment, to ensure the best interests of the child, child-friendly and safe treatment and environment and to strengthen the child-friendly justice. The comprehensive treatment process thus brings together a number of victim services which will work together in a coordinated and effective manner to help ensure swift and effective action in cases of child abuse. The comprehensive treatment process will aim, in particular, to reduce the number of interviews with the child by the same trained professional, while providing regular training and education for the professionals and all interested representatives of the external institutions involved. This is the only way to provide them with sufficient specialised knowledge to be able to act in this field. The emphasis will also be on an informal environment and child-friendly premises where the child feels relaxed and safe in the first place.
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