Minimizing the Trauma to Children During Investigation Process
Turkmenabad, 5th of December 2023 –The second child-friendly room was established in the Police Department of Turkmenabad City, Lebap velayat, based on international best practices, in order to strengthen measures to protect girls and boys who are victims or witnesses of possible crimes.
The room which was inaugurated by the representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Turkmenistan, UNICEF Representative and Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany in Turkmenistan provides a safe and non-intimidating environment for children considering their age, maturity and psychological state. UNICEF has been working closely with the Ministry to ensure that special child protection measures are in compliance with international justice for children standards.
“Turkmenistan, as a State party to major international human rights and children’s rights treaties, pays special attention to strengthening the provision and protection of the rights of all children in contact with the law, including child victims and witnesses of crime,” said Geldimyrat Haldurdiyev, Head of the Department of Law and International Relations of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. “The application of special measures provided protection and assistance to minors and improved the quality of the evidence obtained from them, which served to safeguard their interests.”
“Our joint efforts resulted in progresses in standards of justice for children, including the establishment of child-friendly rooms that provide a safe and non-intimidating environment,” said Mohammad Fayyazi, UNICEF Representative in Turkmenistan. “This will help to avoid the unnecessary repetition of interrogations and lead to stronger evidence in the criminal investigation process.”
“We are happy that the German Government has supported this project to strengthening protection measures for children in contact with the law,” said Michael U. Bierhoff, Ambassador of Germany in Ashgabat.
Establishment of this child-friendly room was made possible thanks to the support of the German Federal Foreign Office. ///UNICEF Turkmenistan, 6 December 2023