Who we work with

The Barnahus Network is a member-led organisation that works to harmonise and consolidate good Barnahus practice, notably across Europe. Our members are Barnahus, ministries, government agencies, NGOs, academics, individuals, and other stakeholders who share a commitment to full, incremental implementation of the Barnahus Quality Standards.

The Network also consults with governments, civil society, NGOs, academia, and private companies worldwide, both to share expertise and ways of working, but also to build a complete picture of the trends and needs in the field of providing protection, justice, and recovery services to child victims of violence.

What we do

Advancing Barnahus through research, evidence, and practice

The Network is a platform for:

• A vibrant and constructive international exchange on establishing and operating multidisciplinary interventions under one roof, with a focus on evidence, experience, and impact.
• Developing and advancing the Barnahus Quality Standards, drawing on international law and guidance, evidence-, research- and practice-based interventions and feedback from professionals, children and their families.
• Identifying and addressing gaps in knowledge and practice.
• Developing, piloting, and rolling out practical and operational tools, training, and resources based on current best-practices and best evidence.

Supporting members to achieve excellence in practice

The Network supports members to:

• Improve practice by having access to training, peer support, mentorship and practical tools, including University certified training in forensic interviews and therapy and tools to benchmark progress to practicing in line with the Barnahus standards.
• Gain recognition and support at national and international level by promoting national and international exchange, partnerships and advocacy, including for national policy and law reform.
• Share expertise, experience and learning by having access to a diverse network which actively engages in exchange and mutual learning.
• Extend outreach and visibility by being part of a broad professional network, including visibility in European social media and opportunities to meet other professionals from across Europe.
• Explore funding opportunities by offering access to expertise and reliant partnerships.

Results

The Network is accelerating progress across Europe in providing multidisciplinary services to child victims of violence.

Our two-pronged approach of collectively developing the Barnahus approach and supporting states to implement it is leading to:

• A shared understanding of what Barnahus is, what it is not, and how to establish such a service so that it does not introduce risks for children to be (re)traumatised or have their testimonies discredited.
• Legitimacy of Barnahus, and why states should strive for full implementation according to high operational standards.
• A harmonisation of high-quality practice across Europe, tailored for each child and each case, and that has the intended impact for children.
• Improved opportunities to share evidence across jurisdictions.
• Capacity-building, advocacy, and provision of Barnahus and similar services at the national level.
• An increasing number of children have access to their rights to protection from violence, to support, and to be heard.

What members are saying

“I would like to join my colleague in expressing our gratitude for our meeting and the enormous resources you have shared. The information allows us to ask more specific questions and organize our plans to be more relevant to our context.“

“I am so impressed by the work you’ve done. I wish someone had done this thorough work before the start of Barnahus in our country.”

“I want to thank you for all the support that you have given us this year in our dream of bringing Barnahus to our country. We are really looking forward to working with others to progress the participation work within our Barnahus development work and to working with the European network in our efforts to shape complex, multisystem change through Barnahus!”

“There will be a new option in law to (…). This is the result of our important cooperation by the way.”

“I’m incredibly grateful for the ongoing support we’re receiving through the Barnahus Network—being part of it is rewarding in so many meaningful ways.”

“We appreciate very much the support and assistance that we receive from the Network in our Barnahus journey. We are very much looking forward to continue our cooperation. The professionals working at Barnahus would benefit very much from the possibility to be able to acquire all the important information about the recent developments, to be able to attend international trainings, share experience with other members of the Network. “

Governance

The General Assembly

The General Assembly approves the annual work plans, budget and operational and financial reports and elects steering group members.

Members have voting rights. Associate members and network supporters are invited to join the General Assembly as observers.

The General Assembly meets at least once annually.

The Steering Group

The Steering Group oversees the work of the Network. The Steering Group is accountable to the General Assembly. The Steering Group functions include:

• Providing strategic direction, leadership and guidance;
• Developing and supporting activities promoting the European Barnahus Movement, including project proposals;
• Making budgetary decisions, including activities which affect the budget;
• Approving or delaying applications for membership of the network;
• Deciding cases of loss of membership.

The Barnahus Network was established in 2019 as “the PROMISE Barnahus Network”.

In 2024, the Network became an independent non-profit organisation with a public purpose, and also changed its name.

Read more

The Secretariat

The Network’s Secretariat facilitates and carries out the decisions of the General Assembly and the Steering Group. Meet our team …

See the Network Statutes for complete information.