The expected results

The expected results of the project are:

  • Improved knowledge of best practices for support victims of child abuse in institutionalized contexts.
  • Increased awareness about the best practices of publics institutions response to crime reveal occurred in institutionalized contexts.
  • Increased acknowledge of public responsibility contributing to reduce the likelihood of future instances of abuse.

There are three main targets of the project: adult survivors of child abuse during institutional settings, particularly residential facilities, this target has been chosen in order to address the long terms effects, individual and social implications of the traumatized impact of deliberate violence committed against children in settings where they were supposed to find protection and support; professionals working in social and health services and in judicial institutions, because they are key actors both in supporting adult survivors and for the prevention of the phenomenon or early detection of new cases; and stakeholders, e.g. representatives of local institutions in charge for the protection children, a target that has been chosen because child abuse in institutional settings is also a clear failure of the control by the institutional system, then it is crucial institutions taking their responsibilities in order to recognize the trauma suffered by the victims and guarantee  moral compensation.

The project contributes towards the improving of child protection measure and quality of assistance throughout Europe starting from the experience of the partners, and serves the promotion also of the child’s rights as defined in existing EU framework such as UN Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children, A/HRC/11/L.13 15.07.2009, EC’s 2010 good practices recommendation on Deinstitutionalizing and transforming services addressing children”, WHO’s “Better Health, Better Lives” Declaration (2010), European Parliament’s regulation No. 1303/2013 , Recommendations No 1934(2010) and 1939(2010) of the Parliamentary Assembly of Council of Europe.

The project has an European dimension which makes the results transferable and a stimulus for other European countries: different partners from different cultures/countries will contribute to the development of the project, then valorising a multi-nations approach and assess limits and opportunities from an European perspective and results will be shared and disseminated in order to facilitate discussions among a wide range of potential interested actors and would be made available for replication (or further improvement) by other professionals and services throughout Europe. The sensitization of all potentially involved parties is expected to have a lasting impact on both reform of child protection policies throughout Europe but also towards acknowledging and providing care to adults who have been victim of child  abuse in institutional settings, and prevent new offenses in the future.