The first friendly room for interviews with child witnesses of crimes has been created in Turkmenistan

The first friendly children's room for conducting investigative actions with young witnesses of crimes or victims opened on Tuesday in Ashgabat at the police department of the Kopetdag district. The creation of a special space for children in the units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs is used in international practice to ensure a safe and not frightening environment and a sparing psychological state.

The social project is aimed at strengthening special measures for the protection of children. It is implemented by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Turkmenistan with the support of UNICEF - the International Fund for Save the Children.

The room will become a place for children where they will feel protected during the investigative processes, and their psyche will be less traumatized. The child-friendly room is equipped with a modern video and sound system, which will eliminate unnecessary re-interrogations and will contribute to obtaining more reliable evidence at the preliminary investigation stage. The introduction of information and communication technologies will strengthen the protection of the rights and legitimate interests of child victims and witnesses of crimes.

"The Government has taken measures to create a supportive and protective environment for child victims and witnesses of crime at all stages of criminal justice. The efforts of investigators involved in interviewing child victims and witnesses of crimes are aimed at applying the most benevolent procedures in conducting investigations in everyday practice," said Geldimyrat Khaldurdyev, head of the Department of Law and International Relations of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Turkmenistan.

UNICEF representative Mohammad Fayyazi, in turn, noted that the trauma suffered by children in the commission of crimes can have the most serious consequences for them and have a significant impact on the process of growing up and developing. In this regard, it is essential that comprehensive protection measures be provided for child victims and witnesses of crime at the pre-trial stage. This contributes to their speedy return to normal life, the international expert noted.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Turkmenistan and UNICEF intend to continue cooperation to further strengthen the legislative framework and strengthen special measures for the legal protection of child victims and witnesses of crimes.

Within the framework of the project, it is also planned to carry out regular activities to increase the capacity of investigators of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in the districts and regions of the country, as well as the development of methodological recommendations for working with cases of children in contact with the law.