IWA 49:2025
(Main)Child-friendly multidisciplinary and interagency response services for children who are victims of violence — Requirements and recommendations
Child-friendly multidisciplinary and interagency response services for children who are victims of violence — Requirements and recommendations
Titre manque
General Information
Standards Content (Sample)
International
Workshop
Agreement
IWA 49
First edition
Child-friendly multidisciplinary
2025-03
and interagency response services
for children who are victims of
violence — Requirements and
recommendations
Reference number
© ISO 2025
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting on
the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address below
or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
CP 401 • Ch. de Blandonnet 8
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva
Phone: +41 22 749 01 11
Email: copyright@iso.org
Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
ii
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Requirements and recommendations . 2
4.1 General .2
4.2 Best interests of the child .3
4.3 Child participation .3
4.4 Survivor engagement .4
4.5 Child protection .4
4.6 Preventing undue delay .4
4.7 Coordinating, operating and sustaining services .4
4.7.1 Integration into the legal and policy framework.4
4.7.2 Interagency coordination and collaboration .5
4.7.3 Multidisciplinary coordination and collaboration .5
4.7.4 Budgeting and sustainability .5
4.8 Non-discrimination .5
4.9 Child-friendly environment .5
4.9.1 Place and accessibility .5
4.9.2 Interior environment .6
4.9.3 Preventing contact with the alleged offender .6
4.10 Interagency planning and case management .6
4.10.1 Procedures and routines .6
4.10.2 Coordinator .6
4.10.3 Support person . .6
4.11 Forensic investigative interviews .6
4.11.1 General .6
4.11.2 Location and recording .7
4.11.3 Role of response service staff .7
4.11.4 Adaptation to the child .7
4.11.5 Interview protocols .7
4.12 Healthcare assessment, treatment and forensic examination.8
4.12.1 Assessment and treatment .8
4.12.2 Forensic medical examinations . .8
4.12.3 Place and organization .8
4.12.4 Competence and responsibilities .8
4.13 Mental health and recovery .8
4.13.1 Assessment, therapy and interventions .8
4.13.2 Competence and responsibilities .9
4.14 Training, supervision and guidance .9
4.14.1 Training of professionals .9
4.14.2 Guidance, supervision and counselling .9
4.14.3 Recruitment and safeguarding .9
4.14.4 Selection, assessment to work with children .9
4.15 Data sharing and external competence building .9
4.15.1 Data collection and awareness raising .9
4.15.2 Knowledge sharing .10
4.16 Performance evaluation and improvement .10
Annex A (informative) Example of multidisciplinary and interagency (MDIA) response service.11
Annex B (informative) Workshop contributors.12
Bibliography .13
iii
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through
ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee
has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations,
governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely
with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are described
in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the different types
of ISO documents should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the editorial rules of the
ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).
ISO draws attention to the possibility that the implementation of this document may involve the use of (a)
patent(s). ISO takes no position concerning the evidence, validity or applicability of any claimed patent
rights in respect thereof. As of the date of publication of this document, ISO had not received notice of (a)
patent(s) which may be required to implement this document. However, implementers are cautioned that
this may not represent the latest information, which may be obtained from the patent database available at
www.iso.org/patents. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and expressions
related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO’s adherence to the World Trade
Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), see www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html.
International Workshop Agreement IWA 49 was approved at a workshop hosted by Icelandic Standards
(IST), in association with Swedish Institute for Standards (SIS), held in Reykjavik, Iceland, in October 2024.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found at www.iso.org/members.html.
iv
Introduction
0.1 Background
It is estimated that, worldwide, up to 1 billion children aged between 2 years to 17 years have been affected
[1]
by physical, sexual, or emotional violence or neglect. This includes being subjected to physical punishment
by caregivers, bullying in school, and physical, emotional, and sexual violence. Every four minutes, a child
dies due to violence somewhere in the world. On average, violence claims the lives of approximately 130
000 children and adolescents under the age of 20 every year, with boys facing a higher risk of dying from
[2]
violence compared to girls.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has estimated that over 1 billion women and men alive in 2024
were subject to sexual violence when they were children. 650 million (1 in 5) girls and women alive today
have been subjected to sexual violence as children. Among them, over 370 million (1 in 8) have experienced
rape or sexual assault. For boys, between 410 million and 530 million (1 in 7) have been subjected to sexual
violence in childhood. This includes 240 million to 310 million (1 in 11) who experienced rape or sexual
[3]
assault.
Furthermore, technology has a significant impact on children’s well-being, offering both opportunities and
risks. While the internet facilitates learning, social interaction and creativity, it also exposes children to
dangers such as cyberbullying, grooming, and sexual exploitation since perpetrators often exploit social
media and online gaming platforms, live-streaming services, and encrypted messaging apps to distribute
[4]
child sexual abuse material, solicitate minors, or engage in sexual extortion.
Globally, 1,6 billion children (2 in 3) experience violent punishment by caregivers at home. Among them,
over two-thirds are subjected to both physical punishment and psychological aggression, such as screaming
and name-calling. Nearly 550 million children (1 in 4 globally) live with mothers who are victims of intimate
[2]
partner violence, exposing them to additional risks and trauma.
“The impact of violence is devastating, immediate and lifelong. Violence against children impairs their brain
development, their physical and mental health and their ability to learn”, according to Reference [5]. While
the criminal justice process is a priority for most states, child victims and witnesses of violence have the
right to a holistic response that supports their full recovery.
[6]
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and its Optional Protocol to the
[7]
Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography and the
Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse (the
[8]
Lanzarote Convention) underscore the obligation of state parties to create systems that safeguard children
from all forms of violence and abuse and adopt measures to promote their physical and psychological
recovery. The United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child systematically recommends that state
parties establish child-friendly, multidisciplinary and interagency services to address violence against
[9]
children and ensure that children receive timely, effective support.
Multidisciplinary and interagency (MDIA) response services are a cornerstone of effective child protection
systems. MDIA response services provide holistic, child-centred and child-friendly responses to violence and
abuse. They bring together child welfare, criminal justice, and medical, therapeutic and legal professionals
under one roof to deliver a coordinated and child-centred response.
In many contexts, the lack of integration between these services results in fragmented and inconsistent
support for child victims. This often forces children to navigate complex systems alone, reliving their
trauma by recounting their experiences multiple times to different professionals. The absence of a child-
centred approach exacerbates the difficulty of disclosure, particularly in cases of sexual violence, where
feelings of fear, shame, and stigma already act as significant barriers. MDIA response services help reduce
re-traumatization for children subjected to sexual exploitation or abuse and child victims and survivors of
[10]
violence by preventing the repetition of their experiences. These services are part of a broader continuum
of child protection mechanisms that address the needs of children and their families throughout the entire
process of healing and protection.
MDIA principles can be adapted to a range of resource environments and governance frameworks while
maintaining a child-centred approach. The Barnahus (Children’s House) model, developed in Iceland, for
v
instance, integrates child welfare, criminal investigation, and medical and therapeutic services under
one roof, minimizing the risk of re-traumatization while ensuring a coordinated response. In 2015, the
Committee of the Parties to the Convention for the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and
Sexual Abuse (the Lanzarote Committee) recognized the Barnahus (Children’s House) model as a promising
[11]
practice.
Children’s Advocacy Centers in the United States emphasize multidisciplinary collaboration, providing
child-friendly environments for interviews, medical examinations, and therapy. In countries with fewer
resources, community-based MDIA initiatives demonstrate the flexibility of the model, relying on community
[9]
involvement to deliver services, ensuring accessibility and cultural relevance.
The promotion and implementation of MDIA response services align closely with the Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 16, which aims to promote peaceful and inclusive societies, provide access to
justice for all, and build effective, accountable institutions. Specifically, MDIA response services contribute
to Target 16.2, which seeks to end abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against children,
as well as Target 16.3, which focuses on promoting the rule of law and ensuring equal access to justice. By
fostering coordinated, child-centred responses, MDIA response services also intersect with SDG 5, which
aims to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls, by addressing the gendered dimensions
of violence and supporting survivors, as well as with other SDG targets related to violence against children.
Efforts to establish and expand MDIA response services have been supported by a range of international
and regional organizations.
The United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child recommends that state parties establish MDIA
response services.
As part of its core commitment to strengthening comprehensive child protection systems, UNICEF has
consistently promoted child-friendly, integrated, and multidisciplinary services for child victims and
witnesses of violence worldwide. These efforts are designed to foster coordinated, child-centred approaches
that address the complex needs of children in a holistic manner.
[12]
The European Union in its Strategy for the Rights of the Child has also emphasized the urgency to present
an initiative aimed at supporting the development and strengthening of integrated child protection systems,
which will encourage all relevant authorities and services to better work together, in a system that puts the
child at the centre.
The Council of Europe has promoted the Barnahus (Children’s House) model since 2015 and has been
assisting its member states in establishing and expanding the existing services with a view to providing
[13]
children with access to child-friendly justice.
The Council of the Baltic Sea States has advanced the Barnahus (Children’s House) model since 2015, focusing
on capacity building, standard development, and international cooperation to enhance child-friendly,
multidisciplinary approaches to child abuse cases. These efforts led to the creation of the Barnahus Quality
[14] [15]
Standards and formalized the Barnahus Network, a member-led platform connecting professionals
and policymakers across Europe. The network supports the establishment and operation of the Barnahus
(Children’s House) model, promotes best practices, facilitates training, and fosters cross-border collaboration
to strengthen MDIA response services globally.
This document recognizes the contributions of all these organizations and others that have supported and
promoted MDIA response services globally, while underscoring the need for continued collaboration to
expand MDIA response services globally.
0.2 Use of this document
This document is intended to establish a consistent global baseline in the establishment and provision of
MDIA response services, based on a consensus of key experts and organizations involved in their drafting
and good practices worldwide. It can be used alongside relevant United Nations standards in addition to
local, regional or global standards.
This document is designed to ensure equality and fairness in the provision of MDIA response services
worldwide. While they form a universally applicable foundation, this document also recognizes the need
vi
for adaptability, allowing governments and stakeholders to contextualize the model to suit specific legal,
cultural, and social environments. Beyond this baseline, states and other actors are encouraged to innovate
and expand upon these requirements and recommendations to achieve the highest levels of service quality
and effectiveness.
The aim of this document is global application, ensuring that the requirements and recommendations
outlined are relevant and applicable to diverse geographical contexts, from high-resource settings to those
with more limited capacities.
This document serves as a resource for collaborative efforts, whether led solely by governmental
organizations or in partnership with non-governmental organizations. It is also intended for use by
international organizations, monitoring bodies, stakeholders and agencies or service providers for child
victims of violence.
See Annex B for information regarding workshop contributors for this document.
vii
International Workshop Agreement IWA 49:2025(en)
Child-friendly multidisciplinary and interagency response
services for children who are victims of violence —
Requirements and recommendations
1 Scope
This document provides requirements and recommendations for child-friendly multidisciplinary and
interagency (MDIA) response services for children who are victims of violence. It provides a holistic
framework for MDIA collaboration to ensure that children are provided with a child-friendly, professional
and effective response in a safe environment.
2 Normative references
There are no normative references in this document.
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https:// www .iso .org/ obp
— IEC Electropedia: available at https:// www .electropedia .org/
3.1
child
person below the age of 18 years
Note 1 to entry: Adapted from Reference [16].
3.2
parent
person(s) with parental responsibility, according to national law
Note 1 to entry: In case the parent(s) is/are absent or no longer holding parental responsibility, this can be a guardian
or an appointed legal representative.
Note 2 to entry: Adapted from Reference [16].
3.3
violence
all forms of physical or mental violence, injury or abuse, neglect or negligent treatment, maltreatment or
exploitation, including sexual abuse
Note 1 to entry: This includes all kinds of non-intentional forms of harm, including making a child witness violence.
Note 2 to entry: Adapted from Reference [17].
3.4
victim
child affected by violence, including a child who has witnessed violence, irrespective of their legal status and
their recognition as a victim of a crime by a legal system
3.5
survivor
person who has been affected by violence as a child, irrespective of their legal status and their recognition
as a victim of a crime by a legal system
Note 1 to entry: Survivors can identify with the term “victim” or “survivor” or another term. Therefore, it is important
to use the term that an individual prefers when engaging with them. See Reference [18].
3.6
child-friendly
any behaviour, conduct, practice, process, attitude, environment or treatment which is humane, considerate,
adapted to the level of maturity and understanding of the child, and in the best interests of the child, for the
child to feel safe, protected, understood and actively involved
3.7
multidisciplinary and interagency response service
MDIA response service
established and coordinated mechanism to deliver interventions and assist, protect and respond to the
needs of children affected by violence, which is coordinated between different agencies through a formal
setup, and consists of a combination of, or involvement by, several professional disciplines or specializations
Note 1 to entry: A multidisciplinary response can be regulated by, for example, joint standard operating procedures
(SOP) or practical guidelines.
Note 2 to entry: The formal setup for interagency coordination and cooperation can be done by, inter alia, a law, policy,
memorandum of understanding or other agreed cooperation framework.
Note 3 to entry: The agencies involved can include line ministries, public institutions and relevant private and non-
governmental entities.
Note 4 to entry: The MDIA response service mechanism is active during child protection, welfare, and criminal justice
investigations and proceedings.
3.8
trauma-informed manner
practice grounded in and directed by a complete understanding of how trauma exposure affects people’s
neurological, biological, psychological and social development
4 Requirements and recommendations
4.1 General
[6]
MDIA response services shall be based on the four general principles of the UNCRC. These are:
— non-discrimination (UNCRC Article 2);
— the best interests of the child (UNCRC Article 3);
— the right to survival and development (UNCRC Article 6);
— the right to participation (UNCRC Article 12).
MDIA response services should also uphold the right to recovery and reintegration (Article 39), ensuring
that children subjected to violence are supported to recover their health, self-respect, and dignity, and are
reintegrated into their communities.
MDIA response services shall protect the best interests of the child during investigation and handling of
cases involving violence against children.
MDIA response services shall provide comprehensive and coordinated support for children before, during
and after criminal and child protection and welfare investigations. The case management and individual
assessments of each child shall be coordinated by child protection professionals and involve thorough
assessments of the best interests of the child (see 4.2). Children and, where appropriate, their parents and
family members should receive regular information and updates about their case in a manner that they can
fully understand (see 4.3).
MDIA response services shall use an evidence-based, forensic investigative interview protocol. Interviews
should be undertaken in MDI
...
Requirements for
child-friendly services
for victims of violence
iso.org
International
Workshop
Agreement
IWA 49
First edition
Child-friendly multidisciplinary
2025-03
and interagency response services
for children who are victims of
violence — Requirements and
recommendations
Reference number
© ISO 2025
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting on
the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address below
or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
CP 401 • Ch. de Blandonnet 8
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva
Phone: +41 22 749 01 11
Email: copyright@iso.org
Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
ii
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Requirements and recommendations . 2
4.1 General .2
4.2 Best interests of the child .3
4.3 Child participation .3
4.4 Survivor engagement .4
4.5 Child protection .4
4.6 Preventing undue delay .4
4.7 Coordinating, operating and sustaining services .4
4.7.1 Integration into the legal and policy framework.4
4.7.2 Interagency coordination and collaboration .5
4.7.3 Multidisciplinary coordination and collaboration .5
4.7.4 Budgeting and sustainability .5
4.8 Non-discrimination .5
4.9 Child-friendly environment .5
4.9.1 Place and accessibility .5
4.9.2 Interior environment .6
4.9.3 Preventing contact with the alleged offender .6
4.10 Interagency planning and case management .6
4.10.1 Procedures and routines .6
4.10.2 Coordinator .6
4.10.3 Support person . .6
4.11 Forensic investigative interviews .6
4.11.1 General .6
4.11.2 Location and recording .7
4.11.3 Role of response service staff .7
4.11.4 Adaptation to the child .7
4.11.5 Interview protocols .7
4.12 Healthcare assessment, treatment and forensic examination.8
4.12.1 Assessment and treatment .8
4.12.2 Forensic medical examinations . .8
4.12.3 Place and organization .8
4.12.4 Competence and responsibilities .8
4.13 Mental health and recovery .8
4.13.1 Assessment, therapy and interventions .8
4.13.2 Competence and responsibilities .9
4.14 Training, supervision and guidance .9
4.14.1 Training of professionals .9
4.14.2 Guidance, supervision and counselling .9
4.14.3 Recruitment and safeguarding .9
4.14.4 Selection, assessment to work with children .9
4.15 Data sharing and external competence building .9
4.15.1 Data collection and awareness raising .9
4.15.2 Knowledge sharing .10
4.16 Performance evaluation and improvement .10
Annex A (informative) Example of multidisciplinary and interagency (MDIA) response service.11
Annex B (informative) Workshop contributors.12
Bibliography .13
iii
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through
ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee
has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations,
governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely
with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are described
in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the different types
of ISO documents should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the editorial rules of the
ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).
ISO draws attention to the possibility that the implementation of this document may involve the use of (a)
patent(s). ISO takes no position concerning the evidence, validity or applicability of any claimed patent
rights in respect thereof. As of the date of publication of this document, ISO had not received notice of (a)
patent(s) which may be required to implement this document. However, implementers are cautioned that
this may not represent the latest information, which may be obtained from the patent database available at
www.iso.org/patents. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and expressions
related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO’s adherence to the World Trade
Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), see www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html.
International Workshop Agreement IWA 49 was approved at a workshop hosted by Icelandic Standards
(IST), in association with Swedish Institute for Standards (SIS), held in Reykjavik, Iceland, in October 2024.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found at www.iso.org/members.html.
iv
Introduction
0.1 Background
It is estimated that, worldwide, up to 1 billion children aged between 2 years to 17 years have been affected
[1]
by physical, sexual, or emotional violence or neglect. This includes being subjected to physical punishment
by caregivers, bullying in school, and physical, emotional, and sexual violence. Every four minutes, a child
dies due to violence somewhere in the world. On average, violence claims the lives of approximately 130
000 children and adolescents under the age of 20 every year, with boys facing a higher risk of dying from
[2]
violence compared to girls.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has estimated that over 1 billion women and men alive in 2024
were subject to sexual violence when they were children. 650 million (1 in 5) girls and women alive today
have been subjected to sexual violence as children. Among them, over 370 million (1 in 8) have experienced
rape or sexual assault. For boys, between 410 million and 530 million (1 in 7) have been subjected to sexual
violence in childhood. This includes 240 million to 310 million (1 in 11) who experienced rape or sexual
[3]
assault.
Furthermore, technology has a significant impact on children’s well-being, offering both opportunities and
risks. While the internet facilitates learning, social interaction and creativity, it also exposes children to
dangers such as cyberbullying, grooming, and sexual exploitation since perpetrators often exploit social
media and online gaming platforms, live-streaming services, and encrypted messaging apps to distribute
[4]
child sexual abuse material, solicitate minors, or engage in sexual extortion.
Globally, 1,6 billion children (2 in 3) experience violent punishment by caregivers at home. Among them,
over two-thirds are subjected to both physical punishment and psychological aggression, such as screaming
and name-calling. Nearly 550 million children (1 in 4 globally) live with mothers who are victims of intimate
[2]
partner violence, exposing them to additional risks and trauma.
“The impact of violence is devastating, immediate and lifelong. Violence against children impairs their brain
development, their physical and mental health and their ability to learn”, according to Reference [5]. While
the criminal justice process is a priority for most states, child victims and witnesses of violence have the
right to a holistic response that supports their full recovery.
[6]
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and its Optional Protocol to the
[7]
Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography and the
Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse (the
[8]
Lanzarote Convention) underscore the obligation of state parties to create systems that safeguard children
from all forms of violence and abuse and adopt measures to promote their physical and psychological
recovery. The United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child systematically recommends that state
parties establish child-friendly, multidisciplinary and interagency services to address violence against
[9]
children and ensure that children receive timely, effective support.
Multidisciplinary and interagency (MDIA) response services are a cornerstone of effective child protection
systems. MDIA response services provide holistic, child-centred and child-friendly responses to violence and
abuse. They bring together child welfare, criminal justice, and medical, therapeutic and legal professionals
under one roof to deliver a coordinated and child-centred response.
In many contexts, the lack of integration between these services results in fragmented and inconsistent
support for child victims. This often forces children to navigate complex systems alone, reliving their
trauma by recounting their experiences multiple times to different professionals. The absence of a child-
centred approach exacerbates the difficulty of disclosure, particularly in cases of sexual violence, where
feelings of fear, shame, and stigma already act as significant barriers. MDIA response services help reduce
re-traumatization for children subjected to sexual exploitation or abuse and child victims and survivors of
[10]
violence by preventing the repetition of their experiences. These services are part of a broader continuum
of child protection mechanisms that address the needs of children and their families throughout the entire
process of healing and protection.
MDIA principles can be adapted to a range of resource environments and governance frameworks while
maintaining a child-centred approach. The Barnahus (Children’s House) model, developed in Iceland, for
v
instance, integrates child welfare, criminal investigation, and medical and therapeutic services under
one roof, minimizing the risk of re-traumatization while ensuring a coordinated response. In 2015, the
Committee of the Parties to the Convention for the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and
Sexual Abuse (the Lanzarote Committee) recognized the Barnahus (Children’s House) model as a promising
[11]
practice.
Children’s Advocacy Centers in the United States emphasize multidisciplinary collaboration, providing
child-friendly environments for interviews, medical examinations, and therapy. In countries with fewer
resources, community-based MDIA initiatives demonstrate the flexibility of the model, relying on community
[9]
involvement to deliver services, ensuring accessibility and cultural relevance.
The promotion and implementation of MDIA response services align closely with the Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 16, which aims to promote peaceful and inclusive societies, provide access to
justice for all, and build effective, accountable institutions. Specifically, MDIA response services contribute
to Target 16.2, which seeks to end abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against children,
as well as Target 16.3, which focuses on promoting the rule of law and ensuring equal access to justice. By
fostering coordinated, child-centred responses, MDIA response services also intersect with SDG 5, which
aims to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls, by addressing the gendered dimensions
of violence and supporting survivors, as well as with other SDG targets related to violence against children.
Efforts to establish and expand MDIA response services have been supported by a range of international
and regional organizations.
The United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child recommends that state parties establish MDIA
response services.
As part of its core commitment to strengthening comprehensive child protection systems, UNICEF has
consistently promoted child-friendly, integrated, and multidisciplinary services for child victims and
witnesses of violence worldwide. These efforts are designed to foster coordinated, child-centred approaches
that address the complex needs of children in a holistic manner.
[12]
The European Union in its Strategy for the Rights of the Child has also emphasized the urgency to present
an initiative aimed at supporting the development and strengthening of integrated child protection systems,
which will encourage all relevant authorities and services to better work together, in a system that puts the
child at the centre.
The Council of Europe has promoted the Barnahus (Children’s House) model since 2015 and has been
assisting its member states in establishing and expanding the existing services with a view to providing
[13]
children with access to child-friendly justice.
The Council of the Baltic Sea States has advanced the Barnahus (Children’s House) model since 2015, focusing
on capacity building, standard development, and international cooperation to enhance child-friendly,
multidisciplinary approaches to child abuse cases. These efforts led to the creation of the Barnahus Quality
[14] [15]
Standards and formalized the Barnahus Network, a member-led platform connecting professionals
and policymakers across Europe. The network supports the establishment and operation of the Barnahus
(Children’s House) model, promotes best practices, facilitates training, and fosters cross-border collaboration
to strengthen MDIA response services globally.
This document recognizes the contributions of all these organizations and others that have supported and
promoted MDIA response services globally, while underscoring the need for continued collaboration to
expand MDIA response services globally.
0.2 Use of this document
This document is intended to establish a consistent global baseline in the establishment and provision of
MDIA response services, based on a consensus of key experts and organizations involved in their drafting
and good practices worldwide. It can be used alongside relevant United Nations standards in addition to
local, regional or global standards.
This document is designed to ensure equality and fairness in the provision of MDIA response services
worldwide. While they form a universally applicable foundation, this document also recognizes the need
vi
for adaptability, allowing governments and stakeholders to contextualize the model to suit specific legal,
cultural, and social environments. Beyond this baseline, states and other actors are encouraged to innovate
and expand upon these requirements and recommendations to achieve the highest levels of service quality
and effectiveness.
The aim of this document is global application, ensuring that the requirements and recommendations
outlined are relevant and applicable to diverse geographical contexts, from high-resource settings to those
with more limited capacities.
This document serves as a resource for collaborative efforts, whether led solely by governmental
organizations or in partnership with non-governmental organizations. It is also intended for use by
international organizations, monitoring bodies, stakeholders and agencies or service providers for child
victims of violence.
See Annex B for information regarding workshop contributors for this document.
vii
International Workshop Agreement IWA 49:2025(en)
Child-friendly multidisciplinary and interagency response
services for children who are victims of violence —
Requirements and recommendations
1 Scope
This document provides requirements and recommendations for child-friendly multidisciplinary and
interagency (MDIA) response services for children who are victims of violence. It provides a holistic
framework for MDIA collaboration to ensure that children are provided with a child-friendly, professional
and effective response in a safe environment.
2 Normative references
There are no normative references in this document.
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https:// www .iso .org/ obp
— IEC Electropedia: available at https:// www .electropedia .org/
3.1
child
person below the age of 18 years
Note 1 to entry: Adapted from Reference [16].
3.2
parent
person(s) with parental responsibility, according to national law
Note 1 to entry: In case the parent(s) is/are absent or no longer holding parental responsibility, this can be a guardian
or an appointed legal representative.
Note 2 to entry: Adapted from Reference [16].
3.3
violence
all forms of physical or mental violence, injury or abuse, neglect or negligent treatment, maltreatment or
exploitation, including sexual abuse
Note 1 to entry: This includes all kinds of non-intentional forms of harm, including making a child witness violence.
Note 2 to entry: Adapted from Reference [17].
3.4
victim
child affected by violence, including a child who has witnessed violence, irrespective of their legal status and
their recognition as a victim of a crime by a legal system
3.5
survivor
person who has been affected by violence as a child, irrespective of their legal status and their recognition
as a victim of a crime by a legal system
Note 1 to entry: Survivors can identify with the term “victim” or “survivor” or another term. Therefore, it is important
to use the term that an individual prefers when engaging with them. See Reference [18].
3.6
child-friendly
any behaviour, conduct, practice, process, attitude, environment or treatment which is humane, considerate,
adapted to the level of maturity and understanding of the child, and in the best interests of the child, for the
child to feel safe, protected, understood and actively involved
3.7
multidisciplinary and interagency response service
MDIA response service
established and coordinated mechanism to deliver interventions and assist, protect and respond to the
needs of children affected by violence, which is coordinated between different agencies through a formal
setup, and consists of a combination of, or involvement by, several professional disciplines or specializations
Note 1 to entry: A multidisciplinary response can be regulated by, for example, joint standard operating procedures
(SOP) or practical guidelines.
Note 2 to entry: The formal setup for interagency coordination and cooperation can be done by, inter alia, a law, policy,
memorandum of understanding or other agreed cooperation framework.
Note 3 to entry: The agencies involved can include line ministries, public institutions and relevant private and non-
governmental entities.
Note 4 to entry: The MDIA response service mechanism is active during child protection, welfare, and criminal justice
investigations and proceedings.
3.8
trauma-informed manner
practice grounded in and directed by a complete understanding of how trauma exposure affects people’s
neurological, biological, psychological and social development
4 Requirements and recommendations
4.1 General
[6]
MDIA response services shall be based on the four general principles of the UNCRC. These are:
— non-discrimination (UNCRC Article 2);
— the best interests of the child (UNCRC Article 3);
— the right to survival and development (UNCRC Article 6);
— the right to participation (UNCRC Article 12).
MDIA response services should also uphold the right to recovery and reintegration (Article 39), ensuring
that children subjected to violence are supported to recover their health, self-respect, and dignity, and are
reintegrated into their communities.
MDIA response services shall protect the best interests of the child during investigation and handling of
cases involving violence against children.
MDIA response services shall provide comprehensive and coordinated support for children before, during
and after criminal and child protection and welfare investigations. The case management and individual
assessments of each child shall be coordinated by child protection professionals and involve thorough
assessments of the best interests of the child (see 4.2). Children and, where appropriate, their parents and
family members should receive regular information and updates about their case in a manner that they can
fully understand (see 4.3).
MDIA response services shall use an evidence-based, forensic investigative interview protocol. Interviews
should be undertaken in MDIA response service settings. Testimonies gathered th
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